Anima Beyond Science

BEYOND

SCIENCE

BEYOND SCIENCE Written and Edited by Reverare

Playtested by Popo; The Silver Monk; Rachel Alucard; Schmidt1001

With Additional Material from Raybras

Illustrations by Various artists, including Shimmering-Sword, GENZOMAN, Jamesbiff, aestheticmachine, EspenG. Flycan and many others.

With Special Thanks to Cipher Studios’ Anima Boards Fantasy Flight Games Edge Entertainment

Anima: Beyond Science is a fan-made, non-profit supplement to the Anima: Beyond Fantasy RPG. No infringement of intellectual property law is intended.

BEYOND SCIENCE

Introduction

4

Character Creation

5

Races

12

Classes

20

Secondary Abilities

31

Starships

35

Equipment

44

Weapons

49

Armour

64

Training Modules

67

Advanced Technology

76

Genetics

84

Combat Drugs

93

Cybernetics

96

Heritage

104

Accidents and Hazards

110

The Galactic Stage

118

Introduction Anima: Beyond Science is a fan-made supplement to the popular Anima: Beyond Fantasy role-playing game, attempting to combine the feel and atmosphere of the best science fiction with the versatile rule mechanics of the Anima game.

The basic Anima rules have been largely left intact to ensure that your experience moving from one to another is quick and easy, and to enable you to add components of one to the other, such as Psionics or Magic.

Whether cinematic Space Opera, gritty cyberpunk or star-faring western in space, Beyond Science’s objective is to give you the tools to run that game using Anima rules.

Beyond Science is an ongoing project, and continues to be updated with new material and revisions are slowly made to rules.

Anima: Beyond Science requires the Anima RPG rulebook to play.

Because of this, suggestions and comments on the project are particularly welcome.

Character Creation Players generate their rolls using the normal methods. Appearance and wealth are rolled at the same time, players may choose which to allocate. Bonuses to primary attributes that are not racial in nature are halved if they would bring the total to above 10. Odd bonuses are rounded down, and only the excess above the maximum are affected in this way. Concepts such as ‘Inhuman’ or ‘Zen’ no longer exist, you can gain the full benefit from your attribute regardless of how high it might be.

Characteristics There are eight primary attributes, as in Beyond Fantasy. The effect that they have on a character differ slightly however, as shown:

Agility (AGI) Defence, Movement, Actions Constitution (CON) Life Points, Physical Resistance, Intelligence (INT) Secondary Skills and Technology Power (POW) Heritage, Style, Leadership

Strength (STR) Melee damage, Wear Armour

Willpower (WP) Mental Resistance

Dexterity (DEX) Attack, Actions

Perception (PER) Sensory Increment

Resistances There is no such thing as Presence in Beyond Science, and there are only two types of resistance- physical and mental. Each resistance begins at 20 plus either your constitution modifier (physical) or your willpower modifier (mental), and increases according to your class. Combat Abilities Attack depends on Dexterity There is no block or dodge ability in Beyond Science, replaced by a single Defence ability, which depends on Agility. Wear Armour depends on Strength. Training Modules are no longer simply for combat, and subsume martial arts. Technological Abilities Genetic Potential is the cost for purchasing gene points, which you can spend on enhancements or splicing.

Genetic Adaptation is the maximum level of genetic modification you can undergo. Your adaptation is added to your constitution score for this purpose. Cybernetic Potential is the cost for purchasing cyber points, which you can spend on enhancements. Integrity is the maximum level of cybernetic modification you can undergo. Your integrity is added to your constitution score for this purpose. Prototype Development is your ability to invent new forms of technology and depends on intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is your ability to program computer code and depends on intelligence.

Fumbles and Opens Fumbles occur on a roll of 01-05 and incur a d100 penalty to the action. Opens occur on a roll of 96100 and apply a d100 bonus to the action. You cannot receive more than one open per check.

Mechanical Engineering is your ability to construct robotic chassis and heavy duty equipment and depends on intelligence. Other Abilities Heritage is an affinity to your ancestors, and a source of unexpected ability during times of difficulty. It depends on power. All characters receive one heritage point per level, including the first. Sensory range is your effective range with skills and attacks and depends on perception.

New Character Creation Rules

Mastery Every 100 points of final ability is known as a mastery level. Each mastery level a character achieves alters the roll required to incur a fumble or an open by one point in your favour. For example, 01-05 becomes 01-04, and 96-00 becomes 95-00. Remember, however, that a 01 is always a fumble.

Creation Notes The maximum number of points you can spend on any primary or secondary skill is one quarter your maximum. For example, a level one character cannot spend more than 150 DP on a single skill.

Natural Bonus

This rule supersedes all previous limits on purchasing skills.

Characters no longer receive a natural bonus, instead they gain a bonus to two secondary skills of their choice each level equal to their intelligence modifier. If the character has a negative intelligence modifier they do not gain this bonus.

Characters may spend any amount of their points on combat or technological skills, but must spend at least one quarter of their development points on secondary skills.

Human characters also receive a +10 innate bonus to five secondary skills of their choice at each level, called a Racial Bonus.

There is no longer a maximum cap on innate class bonuses.

or

Creation Points New Advantages Heritor CP: 1,2,3 For every Advantage point you invest into this advantage, you gain a Heritage Point. Tech Jockey CP: 1,2,3 For every Advantage point you invest into this advantage, you gain 50 Technology Points. Mutant Physiology CP: 1,2,3 Gain 2 Genetic Potential Points for every advantage point you invest into this advantage at character creation. More Machine than Man CP: 1,2,3 Gain 2 Cybernetic Potential Points for every advantage point you invest into this advantage at character creation.

Wealth CP: 1,2, 3 You gain 200k, 500k or 1m CR at character creation, depending on how many creation points you invest on this advantage. Additionally, every session after the first, you receive 1/10th of this amount, representing canny investment. Superb Conditioning CP: 2 You gain a +15 bonus to physical and mental resistances, and an additional +5 to both every level, on top of your normal bonus. Additionally, you gain a +2 bonus to attribute tests. Transcend Limits CP: 1,2,3 Your constitution is treated as being 2 points higher for the purposes of cybernetic or genetic abilities. Each additional point increases your effective constitution for this purpose by 2. Weapons Training CP: 2 You gain a +5 class bonus to attack per level. This bonus does not apply if your class would ordinarily give you a class bonus to attack..

Signature Starship CP: 2,3 You start off with 2m credits, which may only be spent on a starship or on starship equipment. A third advantage point increases the allowance to 5m credits. Additionally, for every 10 Tech Points you normally receive, you gain 5 more for use on your starship only. If you invest 3 creation points in this advantage, you gain 10 more tech points instead for use on your starship. Signature Equipment CP: 1,2,3 You begin play with a special weapon, suit of armour or other piece of equipment. The benefits this gives you will be unique, and must be negotiated with the DM, though a greater investment of CP will bring greater benefit. Robotics Expert CP: 2 The cost to purchase Cybernetics or Artificial Intelligence Primary Skills reduces by 1 point (eg. From 2:1 to 1:1). If it was already 1:1, you gain a +5 bonus per level to these skills. Additionally, you gain 10 Tech Points for every 10 you would normally receive, which may only be used to build robots.

Advantages

Changed Advantages

Not all advantages from the core Anima rules are appropriate for a Sci Fi setting. The following advantages are approved for use in Beyond Science.

Acute Senses

Approved Advantages Ambidextrous Charm Disquieting Animal Affinity Danger Sense Been Around Aptitude in a Subject Aptitude in a Field Good Luck Jack of all Trades Untiring Uncommon Size

Immunity to Pain and Fatigue Fortunate Quick Reflexes Learning Natural Learner Natural Learner, Field Light Sleeper

In addition to the usual benefits, Acute Sense increases your perception by one for the purposes of calculating range increments. Nearsighted In addition to the usual penalties, Acute Sense reduces your perception by three for the purposes of calculating range increments, to a minimum of 1.

Advantages from Other Sourcebooks New Advantages may be taken from other sourcebooks in the Anima series with DM permission

Disadvantages New Disadvantages Adrift CP: 1 Whether by cruel fate or deliberate choice, you have no link to your past. You receive no heritage point at first level, but gain them normally thereafter. Sensitive System CP: 1 You receive half effect from combat enhancement drugs, twice the side-effect and must pay double for cybernetic or genetic potential points. Rookie CP: 2 You start the game as a level zero character (400 DP), and must gain 75 experience points to progress to level one.

Rookie Disadvantage Keep in mind when handing out experience, that being level zero will increase the difficulty of most encounters and therefore, the amount of experience that characters will receive.

Approved Disadvantages Bad Luck Severe Allergy Addiction/ Serious Vice Deep Sleeper Reduced Attribute Unfortunate Exhausted Severe Phobia Slow Healing Slow Learning Unattractive Vulnerable to Heat/Cold Slow Reaction

Aliens Players may choose to make their starting character an alien. Aliens receive a number of advantages over humans, but also have costs associated with them. Firstly, aliens only receive 2 advantages at creation, rather than the 3 that humans receive. Second, aliens cannot choose their Racial Skill Bonuses they wish to receive a +10 per level innate bonus from, instead they are assigned them. It is important to note that racial bonuses to attributes are an exception to the rule halving attribute bonuses above 10.

Praav (Mikael) A race of philosophers. missionaries and priests, the Praav are determined to be a force for good in the galaxy. Peaceful and optimistic, and with a penchant for charity, they are appreciated nearly everywhere they go.

+1 willpower; Sensory Empathy; Acute Hearing; Respect for Life Medicine; Repair; Composure; Persuasion; Cultures

Caidos (Meseguis) A once proud people, now enslaved by the Lide, Caidos are nonetheless determined to make those who would belittle their race pay dearly. They are now as famous for their acts of terrorism as they are for their reverence for their ancestors. +1 constitution; Ancestral Spirit; Heat Resistance; Cold Vulnerability; Infrared Spectrum Demolitions; History; Withstand Pain; Intimidate; Security

Purnata(Barakiel) Undisputed masters of a number of primitive worlds on the fringes of civilised space, the Purnata make up the ‘Deity’ caste among their own people. Used to being the centre of attention, and commanding a considerable number of lesser minions, many believe their own propaganda and are convinced that they are gods given form. +1 power; Extra Arms; Deific Grandeur; Slow Learner 2 Leadership; Style; Science; Athletics; Composure

Yed’ig (Abbadon) Slimy in more ways than one, nearly all Yed’ig possess considerable disdain for concepts of law and morality, a quality which has made them into ideal crime lords, loan sharks and moneylenders. Yed’ig are an extremely old race, and the race possesses more reserves of Precursor technology than almost anyone else. +1 agility; Aquatic Breathing; Profiteering; Vulnerable to Heat; Aquatic Movement Swim; Persuasion; Hide; Theft; Appraise

Tuerii (Raphael) Honourable and compassionate, the Tuerii were originally one half of a symbiotic race. Though this is no longer the case, the Tuerii retain an instinctual desire to protect the helpless.

+1 strength; Protect the Weak; Armoured Skin; Naïve Feats of Strength; Forging; Leadership; Demolitions; Climb

Anlayis (Erebus) Keepers of Secrets, the Anlayis consider machine maintenance and innovation to be a religious duty. Meticulous and close-lipped, Anlayis habitually take on cybernetics at each stage of their biological development, until nothing is left but machine. +1 intelligence; One additional cybernetic potential point per level; Hear the Machine; Forlorn; Ultraviolet Spectrum Computers; Repair; Science; Technology; Analysis

Karran (Noah) Obsessive and excitable, the Karran evolved on a world thought too dangerous for sentient life. A race of thrill seekers, the Karrans often decide to do something simply because the odds are against them. Neither particularly nefarious or virtuous, Karrans admire skill and daring, even in their enemies. +1 dexterity; Redundant Systems; Cardium Addiction; Immune to Climatic Conditions Pilot; Forging; Science; Art; Athletics

Lide (Jedah) Manipulative and independent, Lide have an instinctive need to control their own destiny- and the destiny of others. They are ancient, almost as old as the Yed’ig, moving slowly and remaining behind the scenes. +1 intelligence; Night Vision; Tentacles; Voice of the Master; Light Sensitivity 10 Persuade; Leadership; Analysis; Memorize; Appraise

Caius (Zemial) Brilliant, deadly and numerous, it is just as well the Caius find it difficult to work together. Premier hunters and assassins, the Caius are natural psychopaths, completely lacking empathy or remorse. +1 strength; Withstand Death; The Grand Hunt; Dement; Infrared Spectrum Poisons; Tracking; Stealth; Intimidate; Jump

Lupa (Raphael) Self-proclaimed caretakers of life in the galaxy, the Lupa consider genetic manipulation to be a natural part of evolution, and include a new code in every generation. +1 constitution; Shaperate; Sense the Forest; Hate the Machine Animals; Herbal Lore; Tracking; Notice; Traps

Gla’ade (Gabriel) Lovers, not fighters, the Gla’ade appreciate beauty and peace in all its forms. Evangelists and entertainers, the Gla’ade travel everywhere in search of new experiences to document for the famous Overmind, which contains all the experiences of an entire race. +1 Perception; Sensory Overload; Quick Learner 2; Respect for Life; Ultraviolet Spectrum Art; Music; Style: Acrobatics; Navigation

Alien Abilities Sensory Empathy The Praav can take on another’s negative emotions and pain. The creature touched has the penalty of any emotional or pain effect currently active on him halved. The Praav takes no penalty in return, but the use of this ability can be extremely uncomfortable for him, Ancestral Spirit Caidos naturally feel the imprint of history everywhere they go. It is not an exact science, but Caidos often get glimpses of important events that have occurred nearby. The DM may roll a d100 for the Caidos in an area where an important event took place. On an Open Result (using the Caidos’ History), they get a glimpse of the event occurring, as if using the See in History Sentience Power at Zen Level. Deific Grandeur Millennia of godhood has left the Purnata confident of their personal and collective destiny. Purnata add an attribute bonus of their choice to all social rolls and to all coercion bonuses or penalties they inflict. Profiteering Yed’ig know opportunity when it presents itself, and rarely let it pass them by. They add their intelligence and their power modifier to critical results they inflict, and to all secondary skill rolls that the DM believes to be to satisfying a base interest.

Protect the Weak Tuerii suffer no penalty to defend another, and may do so more than once a round. When fighting to directly defend another weaker than themselves, they may add their willpower as an all-action bonus. Hear the Machine Anlayis can realize faults in machinery just by listening to it’s operation. Fumbles with machinery that an Anlayis is using are treated as 40 points lower, to a minimum of 0. Forlorn Anlayis don’t understand people, and suffer twice their intelligence bonus to all social interactions, not including resisting coercion. Redundant Systems Karrans have an extra set of most major organs, and are therefore very difficult to kill. They receive a +40 bonus to PhR.

Cardium Addiction

The Grand Hunt

Karrans are notorious for their love of a semi-legal drug known as Cardium. Karrans that take Cardium receive twice the normal benefits and side-effects.

Caius are patient hunters, and famous for always getting the prey eventually. A Caius receives a cumulative +5 all action bonus (to a maximum of +50) against a particular enemy every time they face them, after the first. This bonus also applies to all rolls to track or find them.

Voice of the Master Lide have extremely complex vocal chords, capable of mimicking just about any sound. In addition, the complexity of intonation available improves the Lide’s social secondary skills by their intelligence modifier. Light Sensitivity Lide come from a shadowy world where all light is simply reflected from other planets. As a result, they suffer a -10 all action penalty in bright light (such as daylight). Darkened lenses will not reduce the penalty, as the darkening of vision will have the same effect, though it may be more comfortable for the Lide.

Dement Caius are solitary creatures, finding little comfort in social interaction. All social interactions are considered one step more difficult for them. Intimidate is an exception to this rule. Additionally, Caius suffer a -10 all action penalty in large crowds. Shaperate Lupa see value in genetic diversity, and are constantly encouraging their race to take on the traits of aliens. They gain one additional genetic adaptation point per level. Hate the Machine Lupa take a penalty equal to their level x5 on all attempts to use or create robots, cybernetics or other advanced technology. Sensory Overload Gla’ade receive a bonus equal to their perception to initiative and social interaction. Respect for Life Praav and Gla’ade receive a noncumulative -20 all-action penalty after killing a sentient creature. This penalty disappears at a rate of 5 per day without firsthand witnessing violence.

Sensory Increment A weapon’s range is no longer limited only by the weapon in Beyond Science. In an age when most weapons can hit the horizon, a weapon’s maximum range is less important. What matters more is the spatial awareness, handeye-coordination and all round skill of the user, which is where sensory increments come in. Weapons come in four range varieties: Short, Medium, Long and Extreme. You multiply the distance modifier of your weapon by your perception to get your weapon increment, beyond which you begin to suffer a penalty to your attack. You suffer a -50 penalty for attacking beyond your increment, plus another -50 per increment beyond, to a maximum of -200. Notice and Search checks are also affected by your sensory increment.

Short Range

2m

Medium Range

5m

Long Range

10m

Extreme Range

20m

Sight and Sound are considered to be extreme in range. A Human sense of smell is considered to be short range. Touch and taste are not affected by sensory increment. Different species may have different sensory increments. Perception attributes above 10 have additional bonuses, as detailed in Dominus Exxet. Optional Rule: Sniper’s Eye You may substitute your perception bonus for an aiming bonus if it would be higher.

Combat Each round, before initiative is rolled, players must declare how many actions they intend to take. For each action beyond the first, they receive a -25 penalty to their initiative that round. Drawing a Weapon Drawing a light or pistol sized weapon is considered a passive action. Drawing a heavy or rifle sized weapon is considered an active action. Cover Your cover bonus is taken from an enemies ranged attack when you are benefiting from it, 1/2 cover

-40

3/4 cover

-60

9/10 cover -100 Visibility Visibility modifiers are now the same as they are in melee combat. Changing Target Each time you change target during a turn you take a cumulative -25 penalty to attack. Defences Failing a defence does not prevent you from taking active

actions next turn. Each defence you make inflicts a -10 penalty to your next attack, whether melee or ranged. Counterattacks are unaffected by this rule. You may not suffer more than a 100 penalty from this rule. This penalty is called Taking Fire.

Elite Trooper Archetype: Military Life Points: +15 per level Initiative: +5 per level Resistance: +10 per level Attack: 2:1 +5 per level Defence: 2:1 +5 per level Wear Armour: 1:1 +10 per level Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 40 Cybernetic Potential: 40 Prototype Development: 3:1 Artificial Intelligence: 3:1 Mechanical Engineering: 3:1 Tech Points: 25 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +1 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 2:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 3:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 2:1 +10 composure per level +10 leadership per level Training Modules cost half the normal DP for an elite trooper.

The best of the best, elite troopers are taken from the top of their classes in each academy throughout the galaxy and trained exclusively in the art of war. Heroes each, their only failing is that in a universe full of freaks, they are only human. Elite troopers have the best armour and weapons training in the game, but lack special abilities.

Commando Archetype: Military, Scoundrel Life Points: +5 per level Initiative: +10 per level Resistance: +5 per level Attack: 2:1 +5 per level Defence: 2:1 +5 per level Wear Armour: 1:1 +5 per level Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 40 Cybernetic Potential: 40 Prototype Development: 2:1 Artificial Intelligence: 3:1 Mechanical Engineering : 3:1 Tech Points: 50 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +1 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 3:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 3:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 1:1 Creative 2:1

Never fight fair if you can help it. Though superbly trained in combat, the commando’s true strength is their skill with stealth and explosives. Powerful combatants with superb subterfuge skills but few special abilities.

+10 notice per level +10 stealth per level +10 hide per level +10 demolitions per level +10 security per level

Cyborg Archetype: Military, Cybernetic Life Points: +10 per level Initiative: +5 per level Resistance: +10 physical per level +5 mental per level Attack: 2:1 +5 per level Defence: 2:1 +5 per level Wear Armour: 1:1 +5 per level Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 40 Physical Potential: 25 Prototype Development: 2:1 Artificial Intelligence: 2:1 Mechanical Engineering : 1:1 +5 per level Tech Points: 50 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +2 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 3:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 2:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 3:1 +10 forging per level +10 technology per level +10 repair per level

Whether by freak accident or lust for power, Cyborgs use technology to rebuild themselves, stronger, faster, tougher than before. Dangerous combatants with excellent cybernetic abilities but weak genetics and few social graces.

Supersoldier Archetype: Military, Genetic Life Points: +20 per level Initiative: +5 per level Resistance: +10 physical per level +5 mental per level Attack: 2:1 +5 per level Defence: 2:1 +5 per level Wear Armour: 1:1 +5 per level Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 25 Physical Potential: 40 Prototype Development: 3:1 Artificial Intelligence: 3:1 Mechanical Engineering : 3:1 Tech Points: 25 per level Adaptation: +2 per level Integrity: +1 per level

Born and bred for war, every major military keeps millions of genetically altered super soldiers ready and trained for war. Quick-grown, and not as moduleheavy as the elite troopers, super soldiers make up for any lack of training in spades with the best in genetic conditioning and mental reprogramming available, making them the toughest combat type in the game.

Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 3:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 3:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 1:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 3:1 +10 feats of strength per level +10 withstand pain per level

Android Archetype: Cybernetic Life Points: +15 per level Initiative: +5 per level Resistance: +10 physical per level +5 mental per level Attack: 2:1 Defence: 2:1 Wear Armour: 2:1 Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: N/A Physical Potential: 20 Prototype Development: 2:1 Artificial Intelligence: 1:1 +10 per level Mechanical Engineering : 1:1 +10 per level Tech Points: 50 per level Adaptation: N/A Integrity: +2 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 3:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 2:1 Technical 1:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 3:1 +10 computers per level +10 repair per level +10 analysis per level

Constructed, not born, androids are built for a variety of purposesespionage, infiltration, sabotage. Illegal on most worlds, Androids must cope with being cybernetic in a galaxy full of biologicals. Unusual, with no genetic abilities at all, androids would suit a player looking for a more complex role-playing challenge.

Androids cannot be hacked, nor can they buy frame components. They can, however, purchase AI packages and are always considered to possess a CPU of the same Intelligence they are.

Ace Pilot Archetype: Specialist Life Points: +5 per level Initiative: +10 per level Resistance: +10 per level Attack: 2:1 Defence: 2:1 +5 per level Wear Armour: 2:1 Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 40 Physical Potential: 40 Prototype Development: 3:1 Artificial Intelligence: 3:1 Mechanical Engineering : 1:1 +5 per level Tech Points: 50 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +1 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 2:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 2:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 3:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 2:1

The flyboys, daredevil smugglers and elite pilots of the galaxy, Ace Pilots are fast, tough and always look like they have a plan.

+10 pilot per level +10 repair per level +10 analysis per level +10 style per level +10 persuasion per level

Aces are clever scoundrels, with decent skills, and are the quickest combatants in the game.

Pilot 1:1 Composure 2:1

Operative Archetype: Specialist Life Points: +5 per level Initiative: +10 per level Resistance: +5 per level Attack: 2:1 Defence: 2:1 Wear Armour: 2:1 Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 30 Physical Potential: 30 Prototype Development: 2:1 Artificial Intelligence: 2:1 Mechanical Engineering : 2:1 Tech Points: 50 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +1 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 2:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 2:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 2:1 +10 to two skill fields of your choice per level, the skills of which become 1:1 in cost thereafter. These fields must be chosen at first level.

When something needs getting done and no-one else can do it, corporations and governments turn to the operatives. Highly skilled in a number of fields, the operative is a catch-all class designed for the player unsure of what to specialize in.

Scientist Archetype: Specialist Life Points: +5 per level Initiative: +5 per level Resistance: +5 physical per level, +10 mental per level Attack: 2:1 Defence: 2:1 Wear Armour: 2:1 Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 30 Physical Potential: 30 Prototype Development: 1:1 +10 per level Artificial Intelligence: 1:1 +10 per level Mechanical Engineering: 1:1 +10 per level Tech Points: 75 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +1 per level

Scientists specialize in uncovering the secrets of technology and cybernetics, though rarely stoop to experimenting on themselves. Scientists have the best technological and inventive powers and superb technical skills, but comparatively weak in combat.

Secondary Skills Athletics 3:1 Social 2:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 1:1 Technical 1:1 Vigour 3:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 2:1 +10 science per level +10 repair per level +10 analysis per level +10 technology per level +10 medicine per level Analysis 1:1

Evolutionary Archetype: Genetic Life Points: +10 per level Initiative: +5 per level Resistance: +10 physical per level, +5 mental per level Attack: 2:1 Defence: 2:1 Wear Armour: 3:1 Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 20 Physical Potential: 50 Prototype Development: 3:1 Artificial Intelligence: 3:1 Mechanical Engineering : 3:1 Tech Points: 25 per level Adaptation: +2 per level Integrity: +1 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 2:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 2:1 Technical 3:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 2:1 +10 animals per level +10 herbal lore per level +10 poisons per level +10 medicine per level +10 cultures per level

Life is strength, or so say the evolutionaries. When natural selection gets a little slow, why not give it a push? Evolutionaries specialize in practical genetic engineering, using cutting-edge life sciences to produce astonishing biological effects. They have little interest in other technologies, however.

Scum Archetype: Specialist Life Points: +10 per level Initiative: +10 per level Resistance: +10 per level Attack: 2:1 +5 per level Defence: 2:1 Wear Armour: 2:1 Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 30 Physical Potential: 30 Prototype Development: 3:1 Artificial Intelligence: 3:1 Mechanical Engineering : 3:1 Tech Points: 25 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +1 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 2:1 Perceptive 2:1 Intellectual 3:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 1:1 Creative 2:1

Experts on all matters criminal and illicit, scum are unpredictable, innovative and opportunistic, always waiting for that next big score. Scum are survivors with a wide range of skills and abilities.

+10 intimidate per level +10 repair per level +10 theft per level +10 security per level +10 trap lore per level

Bounty Hunter Archetype: Military, Technological Life Points: +10 per level Initiative: +5 per level Resistance: +10 per level Attack: 2:1 Defence: 2:1 +5 per level Wear Armour: 1:1 +5 per level Technological Abilities Genetic Potential: 40 Cybernetic Potential: 40 Prototype Development: 2:1 Artificial Intelligence: 3:1 Mechanical Engineering : 3:1 Tech Points: 75 per level Adaptation: +1 per level Integrity: +1 per level Secondary Skills Athletics 2:1 Social 3:1 Perceptive 1:1 Intellectual 2:1 Technical 2:1 Vigour 2:1 Subterfuge 2:1 Creative 2:1 +10 track per level +10 notice per level +10 technology per level Intimidate 2:1

Bastions of order in a lawless galaxy, Bounty Hunters are charged by planetary governments to dispense semilegal justice light years away from where the crime occurred. Powerful combatants with superb technology and perceptive skills but poor special abilities.

Secondary Skills Obsolete Skills The Occult, Magic Appraisal, and Lockpicking skills no longer exist. New Skills Analysis [Perceptive] (Int) The ability to analyse data, such as a crime scene, historical records or star map and reach a logical result. Security [Subterfuge] (Dex) The ability to disarm or evade security measures, such as mechanical locks, alarms, motion sensors etc. Cultures [Intellectual] (Int) Knowledge of strange or alien cultures, traditions and etiquettes.

Piloting [Technical] (Dex) The ability to manoeuvre and control all kinds of vehicles, mecha and starships effectively.

New Skill Field: Technical Demolitions [Technical] (Int) The ability to create, set and disarm explosive devices of all kinds. Computers [Technical] (Int) The ability to effectively use, hack or create computerised devices. Hacking in combat suffers a 80 penalty to the result.

Technology [Technical] (Int) Knowledge of cutting edge or alien technology, such as specs, alternate uses, new prototypes etc. Repair [Technical] (Int) The ability to repair mechanical or electronic equipment. See Page 35 for details. Repairing in combat suffers a -80 penalty to the result.

Characteristic Tests Sometimes a situation challenges a character’s natural talents rather than her learned skills, such as avoiding a fissure that suddenly appears underneath her feet, or solving a complex riddle. In such circumstances, characters may be asked to make a Characteristic Test. A Characteristic Test in Beyond Science is a d10 roll, with a bonus to the roll equal to the relevant attribute, plus bonuses or penalties, as appropriate.

Skill Specializations When choosing a secondary skill, you may decide to focus on a particular aspect of it. For example, you may specialize in Forge armour, or in the Science of Genetics. You receive a +40 Specialization bonus when that particular aspect of the skill is relevant, but a -20 penalty when called to use the skill for another purpose. For example, a character takes the Pilot skill and specializes in Snub Fighters. If she were to fly any kind of super-light craft, she will receive a +40 bonus to her Pilot Check. Flying anything else, she would take a -20 penalty. At each Mastery Level, Specialization bonuses increase by 20, and the penalty increases by 10.

Every Artificial Intelligence and protected computer has a firewall skill, which is compared against your Computers check every time you make a hacking attempt. Unprotected computers require a routine Computers check to hack. Artificial Intelligences roll a d100 on top of their skill, while protected computers have only their set skill.

Hacking Computers are an everyday part of life in Beyond Science, and most characters will have had considerable experience dealing with them. Simple things such as browsing HoloNet, or checking your email can be done without a check. More advanced uses of a computer, such as programming or hacking are more indepth and may require a Computers check. Hacking requires a computer, and a connection to the target intelligence, either by a cable, a wireless connection, or by connection to a proxy with it’s own connection to the target. Once a connection has been made, you may make one attempt per round to take control of a particular function, or to gain administrative access.

If the computer is actively being used by another operator, who has administrative control, they may make a computers check themselves if you beat the firewall. If they beat your result, your attempt is nullified, and they maintain control. If you beat their result, you gain control as normal. Trying to access a single function requires you get a result 40 points below the target. Having access to a single function (a weapon, a limb, a process) allows you to use that function only. Self-destructive procedures are never considered to be a single function. Administrative access requires beating the firewall skill with your Computers check, but allows you total access to the computer.

Making a command when you have access to a combat-ready computer (CRC) is a passive action. Otherwise, it is an active action. A CRC requires a HUD (see the technology chapter), and costs Technology Points. The complexity of the commands you can make of a computer depend on it’s intelligence. You cannot command a computer to do something beyond it’s capability (such as exploding without a self-destruct, or moving without parts). You can also command a computer to Lockout, which will cause it to ignore all further commands, whether given by you or not. This lockout can be permanent or last for a given amount of time. The only way to end a lockout is to physically get inside the computer and manually turn it off. Until told otherwise, even if a computer is taken control of by another, it will continue performing tasks given to it previously. A computer can perform millions of low-level tasks simultaneously, so it possible that the new user may not notice that the computer is doing it. Noticing this may require a Computers or Analysis check.

It should be noted that in the Beyond Science universe security concerns about rogue hackers taking over multiple systems have led virtually all System companies to separate computer networks, and to severely restrict the use of wireless connections. Generally speaking, you should only be able to access a computer in the room it is in, and then that computer will not be linked to any others unless absolutely necessary for it’s function. Similarly, it is not possible to exert any control over any computer over the HoloNet, and downloads and other indirect attempts can no longer effect core functions. Only a direct Computers check will suffice.

Repairs It will likely become necessary to repair equipment over time, as it takes damage, or is subject to extreme forces. Repairs are the only way to restore life points to starships or robots, treated as if a Medicine check, with additional components with a CR cost equal to the number of life points restored squared. Otherwise, repairs to equipment will cost anywhere from 1/100th to 1/2 the original price of the equipment, depending on the severity of the damage and the availability of components. The repair check will be 40 points lower than the check required to craft the item originally.

The repair skill can also be used to salvage components from mechanical or electronic devices. Salvaging an intact piece is usually less cost effective than selling it as is, but in some cases, such as if you lack the space to transport the whole piece, or if the object is broken, it can be a worthwhile venture regardless. Salvage recovers useable components worth ¼ the normal value of the object if it were intact. Severe damage may reduce this amount considerably, though a high repair check may mitigate the damage for this purpose.

Piloting

Vectored Thrust

Piloting Techniques:

An unexpected, jerky movement, allowing the pilot to make a change of any direction while moving.

Evasive Maneuvres For one round, the defence of the piloted craft is replaced by a piloting check, modified by the size of ship. The pilot may not make attacks with the weapon systems while taking evasive manoeuvres. Ramming Speed Make a piloting check rather than an attack to ram into another ship. You deal base damage equal to your size modifier multiplied by the movement value you attain while ramming, to both yourself and the enemy ship.

Requires a Piloting Check of: 45 degrees 90 degrees 135 degrees 180 degrees

Moderate Hard Very Hard Absurd

Vector Thrust movement during a turn can surprise an opponent if in a dogfight, or leave themselves vulnerable. In a dogfight the enemy must make a piloting check opposed by the player’s. The loser is considered surprised against that opponent if he failed by 40 or more. Only light cruisers and smaller can make a vectored thrust manoeuvre. Broadside You may take a -30 penalty to your defence to grant a +10 bonus to your attack. You may do this up to three times to gain a cumulative effect. Flying Cautious Alternatively, you may take a -30 penalty to your attack to grant a +10 bonus to your defence. You may do this up to three times to gain a cumulative effect.

Starships To accelerate past the speed of light, and explore beyond their own systems the races of Beyond Science developed a technology enabling a ship to fold space, dramatically reducing the amount of time spent in transit. Gravity Wells Speed A ship’s sub-light speed is worked out by subtracting it’s size from the engine power as a fraction of the speed of light. Those ships capable of it may also fold space by the amount given, which is multiplied with the sublight speed to give the ship’s Fold Speed.

Any object with a mass of a small moon or greater is considered to have a gravity well. Gravity wells cannot be folded through- your trip will end when you enter a gravity well. You may also not fold inside a gravity well, you must leave it first. It is quite typical for a fold route to take a ship through many gravity wells, which is where the majority of space combat will take place. If a sub-light engine’s speed would reduced to less than 0,1 of the speed of light, they are instead reduced to 0.05 instead. If the same would increase an engine’s speed above 1.0, the DM may decide if he wants the law of Lorentz Invariance to be absolute in his game- or not.

Classifications Size

Category

Examples

Big

0.1

Super-Light

Snub Fighter; Personal Shuttle

Enormous

0.2

Light

Bomber; Planetary Shuttle

Giant

0.3

Heavy

Small Freighter; Superiority Fighter

Colossal

0.4

Frigate

Freighter; Missile Ship

Cruiser

0.5

Drone Host; Commercial Freighter

Battleship

0.6

Capital Ship; Super Freighter

Object Type

Well Radius

Small Moon

1 round

Large Moon

2 rounds

Planetoid

3 rounds

Life-bearing Planet

4 rounds

Gas Giant

5 rounds

Small Star

1 minute

Medium Star

2 minutes

Large Star

3 minutes

Giant Star

4 minutes

Module

Effect

Neutron Star

D50 minutes

F-Type Fold

X750 Fold Speed

4

10k

A-Type Fold

X1000 Fold Speed

5

50k

D100 minutes

S-Type Fold

X1250 Fold Speed

7

120k

X-Type Fold

X1500 Fold Speed

9

250k

M-Type Fold

X2000 Fold Speed

1 1

600k

Black Hole

The well radius given is for ships moving at light speed. Multiply the time required by your sub-light speed to find the amount of time you need to escape the gravity well. All values assume you are moving at full speed. Working out your exact speed is not necessary, as all distances will be measured as if moving at the speed of light- i.e. Light years- so you just need to divide the time given by your sub-light speed. Your fold speed multiplies this speed by the number given when folding through open space. Cost

Starship Costs Every starship starts off as a frame, which by itself does nothing but take punishment and hold modules. The larger the frame, the more modules it can carry inside of it, and the more modules it has, the more it can do. Remember that you must pay for both the frame and modules for a ship to work. Frame

Cost

Manoeuvre/ Mass

Module Slots

Size

Personal Shuttle

15k

9/11

4

Super Light

Escape Pod

20k

8/12

4

Super Light

Snub Fighter

30k

8/12

5

Super Light

Planetary Shuttle

25k

7/13

6

Light

Heavy Fighter

50k

7/13

8

Light

Bomber

60k

7/13

10

Light

Small Freighter

200k

6/14

15

Heavy

Yacht

360k

6/14

20

Heavy

Missile Ship

520k

5/15

25

Frigate

Freighter

600k

5/15

30

Frigate

Assault Ship

720k

4/16

35

Frigate

Drone Host

800k

3/17

40

Cruiser

Commercial Freighter

1.2m

3/17

60

Cruiser

Blockade Runner

1.6m

2/18

80

Cruiser

Super Freighter

5m

1/19

100

Battleship

Carrier

6m

1/19

120

Battleship

Capital Ship

10m

1/20

200

Battleship

Module

Effect

Slots

Cost

Single Pulse Engine

Sub-light 0.4, requires 1 Power

1

10k

Twin Pulse Engine

Sub-light 0.6, requires 2 Power

2

25k

Impulse Engine

Sub-light 0.8, requires 3 Power

3

60k

Flow Engine

Sub-light 1.0, requires 4 Power

4

150k

Splash Engine

Sub-light 1.2, requires 5 Power

5

400k

Life Support

Supports 5 human-sized biologicals: each slot doubles this number (stacking exponentially), requires 1 Power

1+

2k per

Weapon System

1 slot +1 per size category above Medium, each weapon requires 1 Power

1+

6k per

Tech Array

1 slot +1 per size category above SuperLight; uses Tech Points, each array requires 1 Power

1+

10k per

Facility

A Medical Bay, Workshop or other facility

1

6k

Fusion Reactor

Provides 2 points of power per slot

1+

15k

Living Quarters

Allows 1 person to survive onboard for long trips: each slot doubles this number (stacking exponentially)

1+

3k per

Quality modules require 1 less slot per grade of quality (minimum 1). They also grant their bonus to any relevant checks or tests to use them.

Starship Rules In most respects, a starship is treated as being a creature directly controlled by the pilot. For example, a starship rolls defence using the pilot’s base defence primary ability, modified by it’s agility (manoeuvre) instead of the pilot’s own.

Quality increases both manoeuvre and mass attributes by 1 point, and increases available module slots by 50%.

Initiative is calculated as if the pilot were using the ship as a weapon, with the base initiative being it’s speed.

Double the ship’s manoeuvre to find it’s Flight Value when in atmosphere. The ship’s Lift Value is equal to it’s mass, and it can carry as much cargo as a human of that strength could have as it’s maximum load. Battleships can carry 1m tons, not an infinite amount!

Ships gain life points as if they were level 0 damage resistance characters with a constitution equal to it’s mass attribute. Ships have physical resistance equal to 25 plus their constitution modifier (assuming the ship’s mass attribute is considered to be it’s constitution), Ships have no mental resistance.

You may reduce the ship’s Lift Value for the purposes of cargo by any amount to gain the same amount of module space, to a minimum Lift Value of 10.

Size

Physical Attack

Natural Weapon

Base Initiative

Action Area

Multiple Damage Resistance

Armour

Frigate

80

160

-40

50m

25

12

Battleship

100

200

-60

100m

30

14

The Importance of Piloting A starship’s maximum defence and initiative bonus is limited to the final skill bonus of the pilot’s Pilot secondary skill.

Power Starship Reactors generate Power every round, which can be used to power a ship’s sub-light speed, shields, weapon systems, and a number of functions. Power can be rerouted with an easy computers or repair check (depending on whether the character is using a computer or manually rerouting power), drawing most of the power from one module and putting into another. Each unit of power rerouted in a round increases the check difficulty by two grades. In a combat situation, this check may be subject to the relevant penalties. These effects are temporary, but once rerouted, the bonus and penalty remains in place until rerouted again.

Module

FROM

TO

Shield

-50% Regen

x2 Regen

Weapons

Half Base Damage

Extra Grade of Quality

Life Support

Barely enough to survive for 24 hrs

No effect

Engine

Half speed

+0.1 sublight

The above table lists the effect of rerouting power away and towards a module. You can’t ‘overcharge’ a module with extra units of power, it must be rerouted. Rerouting for a long period of time can be dangerous. Modules that have been rerouted power TO them can suffer the effects of a long-term build up of power. For each minute of time that passes while rerouting power TO a module, roll a d100. On a roll of a 01-05, the module short-circuits and becomes damaged. Each minute that passes the roll becomes 5 points more difficult- 01-05 becomes 01-10. Quality modules are not damaged, but temporarily lose a grade of quality instead. This does not effect the number of modules they take up.

Targeting a Module

Damage Ships take damage as characters do, applying their defence and AT to attacks, then subtracting the result from their life points. Similarly, they receive critical hits as characters do, when suffering 50% of their remaining life points in a single blow, or when a vital point is struck for 10% of their remaining life points. A ship’s reactor and bridge is considered to be a vital point for this purpose. Additionally, specific modules may be targeted to damage or destroy them. Dealing 10% of the ship’s remaining life points will inflict a special critical dependent on the type of module attacked.

The difficulty of targeting a module depends on what percentage of the ship’s total modules it makes up. Percentage

Attack Penalty

25%

-40

Module Hit

Level of Failure

Effect

Engine

Per 10

-0.1 sublight

Weapons

Fail

Damaged condition

Life Support

Fail

As FROM table

Bridge

Fail

As Critical

Reactor

Fail

As Critical

Hull

Per 20

Decompression in one area

What’s a credit worth? Value

Equipment Characters roll a d10 to determine their starting wealth: 1

Underclass

4k Credits

2-4

Proletariat

8k Credits

5-7

Petty Bourgeois

15k Credits

8-9

Bourgeois

25k Credits

10

Minted

40k Credits

Purchase

1

A newsdisc or a bottle of distilled water

5

A basic meal or a Galactic Net subscription

20

A RTE meal or a standard travel fare to another city

100

A standard ammunition clip or a wilderness survival kit

500

A handgun and a clip of ammo or 1 months rent in a standard dormitory

1k

Standard fare for an interplanetary trip or an entertainment system

10k

A second-hand land transport or a 2yr lease on a standard dormitory

20k

A new land transport or a cramped dormitory freehold

100k

A small freighter or a dormitory suite freehold

Quality Not all equipment is created equal. Superior craftsmanship, better materials and cutting-edge technology can set a select few apart from others. Of course, this kind of power doesn’t come cheapcosts are multiplied accordingly, and the level of skill required to craft them ensure they remain rare.

Quality

Cost Multiplier

-5

X0.5

+0

x1

+5

x20

+10

x50

+15

x100

+20

x200

Availability Keep in mind that high quality weapons and armour are difficult to come by. Even a +5 weapon represents decades of experience and tens of thousands of credits of investment beyond the simple cost of purchase. Not every community is capable of such a feat, much less eager to do so. Purchasing beyond these limits requires special circumstances, such as an auction or unique trade deal.

Community Size

Maximum Purchase

Village/Fuel Depot

5k CR

Town/Mining Colony

10k CR

Minor City/Orbital Station

20k CR

Major City/ Deep Space Station

50k CR

Metropolis/Pirat e Mega Station

200k CR

Hub/Galactic Exchange

1m CR

Note: When making a conversion from Beyond Fantasy, assume a credit is worth 1 Silver Piece

Equipment Rebreather A more advanced form of gas mask, the rebreather filters out airborne toxins and allows for a short time spent in zero atmosphere. The air supply will last 8 hours in areas without oxygen, 24 in areas of low oxygen. Cost: 50 CR Spray-on LCD Performs all the usual functions of a monitor, on any surface and at any size. Cost: 150 CR PersoCom Available in a variety of sizes, this small computer performs all the functions you would expect of a modern computer and more. Cost: 300 CR PersoComs grant a +20 bonus to Computers checks per grade of additional quality.

Fire Extinguisher Highly pressurized foam held tightly within a handy red container. Extinguishes a 1m/1m area per round, and there are 10 applications inside each canister. Cost: 20 CR Med-pack In extensive use throughout the galaxy, the humble medpack grants a +40 bonus to medicine checks to treat injury, poison or disease. Higher quality versions grant a +20 bonus per grade of quality. Cost: 100 CR NutriPAK Ubiquitous artificial food on the go, NutriPAK is available in thousands of different flavours and surprisingly nutritious, though the texture is worryingly consistent with cardboard. Cost: 1CR

Power Generator

Power Cell

Constructed in a multitude of different ways, power generators use ionized water to produce energy. Note that a fully fuelled power generator is fairly heavy (10kg), and produces a distinctive energy signature that can be read by most sensors at range with an analysis check. More generators make a signature easier to read.

Smaller than a generator, and without the tell-tale signature, Power Cells store energy in a complex series of compressed nanotubes. Provides one energy unit for 10 rounds of use. Recharging a cell is possible, but dangerous, and voids the warranty. After a recharge, a result of 51-00 on a fumble causes the cell to explode, inflicting damage as per an Overloaded Power Source.

Cost: 2k CR Multitool The quintessential tool, able to perform a vast array of electronic and mechanical tasks. Grants a +20 bonus to all repair, security and forge tasks. Each 5 points of quality improve this bonus by 10 points. Cost: 750 CR

Cost: 50 CR Portable Jamming Device (PJD) A handheld, easily concealed device that jams most forms of wireless communication. Requires a Computers check to use and has an effective range

500m. Higher quality versions jam at an increased range (1km per grade of quality) and grant a +10 bonus per grade of quality to the computers check. The DM dictates the difficulty of the check depending on the strength of the signal, from routine for a children’s walkie-talkie to near impossible for a planetary defence alarm. A successful result jams all signals (including friendly ones) of that grade or lower within the range. Cost: 4k CR Complete Immersion Chamber (CIC) As often used for training as entertainment, the CIC allows an individual to experience scripted events and view Immersion feed as if she were actually there. Expensive to buy, and complicated to program, few own a chamber,

but they remain popular in arcades and in other public entertainment areas. Immersion feed is difficult to design, requiring at least a very difficult computers check to design simple programs. Cost: 50 CR per hour, 15k CR to own OPTCAM Cheap, ubiquitous security, OPTCAMs function like modern CCTV over a wireless or cable network. Special programs and connection to a CPU is required to recognise insignia, faces, weapons etc. Notice checks are considered to be made by the camera at a +20 bonus. Cost: 20 CR

Weapons Name

Dam age

Speed

Req Str

Str

Clip

Range

Special

Cost

Holdout

30

20

3

7

4

Short

Pistol

600

Light Pistol

40

10

4

7

8

Short

Pistol

400

Heavy Pistol

50

0

5

9

8

Med

Pistol

800

Machine Pistol

35

5

5

7

16

Short

Burst; Pistol

1.8k

Dart Pistol

20

20

2

5

8

Short

Poison; Pistol

2k

Flame Pistol

40

0

5

-

4

5m

Immolate ; Pistol

2.4k

Rocket Pistol

80

-40

6

11

2

Med

Blast 1m; Pistol

8.4k

Hunting Rifle

60

-10

5

9

8

Long

1.6k

Shotgun

70

-20

7

11

8

Short

1.2k

Assault Rifle

55

-15

6

9

16

Med

Burst

4.8k

SMG

45

-5

6

9

16

Med

Burst

3.6k

LMG

65

-25

7

11

16

Med

Burst

6.4k

MG

75

-35

9

13

16

Med

Burst

9.8k

HMG

95

-55

11

15

16

Med

Burst

12.4k

Light AAR

80

-30

8

13

4

Long

Blast 1m

8.6k

Heavy AAR

100

-50

10

15

4

Long

Blast 3m

10k

Sniper Rifle

90

-40

7

13

4

Ext

7.4k

Name

Dam age

Speed

Req Str

Str

Clip

Range

Special

Cost

Flamethrower

60

-20

6

-

4

10m

Immolate

4.8k

Industrial Rivetgun

50

-5

7

11

8

Short

Improvis ed

280

Needler

40

10

4

7

8

Med

Poison

6k

Machine Pistol

35

5

5

7

16

Short

Burst

1.8k

RPG

100

-80

9

15

2

Long

Blast 5m

4.8k

Energy Pistol

50

0

5

-

8

Short

Energy; Pistol

8k

Energy Rifle

70

-20

7

-

8

Med

Energy

12k

Adhesive Rifle

-

-20

5

11

4

Short

Trapping

6k

Compression Rifle

20

0

5

13

8

Short

Knockback

4.2k

Beam Rifle

65

-25

7

-

16

Med

Beam, Energy

24k

Launcher Rifle

-

-20

6

11

-

Long

Grenade

1.2k

Grenades and other Explosives Name

Damage

Speed

Range

Special

Cost

Frag Grenade

60

0

Thrown

Blast 3m

400

ANAR Grenade

80

0

Thrown

Ignore ½ AT

1k

CRYO Grenade

40

0

Thrown

Freeze

1k

INC Grenade

40

0

Thrown

Immolate

800

Pulse Grenade

80

0

Thrown

Pulse

2.2k

Shock Trigger

40

0

Thrown

Stun

1.4k

Impulse Grenade

20

0

Thrown

Knockback 15

1.8k

Render Mine

120

-100

Stationary

Blast 5m

3.2k

Tear Gas

-

0

Thrown

PhR 140 Incapacitate 10m

1.6k

Flashbomb

-

20

Thrown

PhR 140 Blind 3m

800

Overloaded Power Source

50

0

Thrown

Blast 3m; Improvised

-

Smoke Bomb

-

0

Thrown

Blast 10m; Obscure

100

EMP Bomb

-

0

Thrown

Blast 10m; Interference

400

Fusion Bomb

200

-100

Stationary

Blast 20m

12k

Melee Weapons Name

Damage

Speed

Special

Cost

Plasma Torch

20

0

Energy

2k

Breach Axe

60

-10

Ignores 2 AT

400

Longknife

40

10

Precise

240

Stunrod

40

-10

Stun

1.2k

Combat Gloves

+10*

-20*

Unarmed

500

Power Fist

+20*

-40*

Unarmed

6.2k

Industrial Chainsaw

80

-40

Improvised; Noisy

200

Combat Chainsaw

90

-30

Noisy

4k

Industrial Pincers

70

-50

Double Damage on Trapped Opponent; Precise

2.4k

Industrial Drill

50

-40

Ignores 4 AT; Improvised; Noisy

400

Whisperblade

50

0

Notice 80 or Partially Blind

1.4k

Power Claw

+20*

-40*

Unarmed; Cut/Thrust

4.2k

Energy Blade

40

15

Energy; Precise

12k

Energy Sword

70

-35

Energy

28k

Weapon Upgrades Sometimes called ‘Tactical Upgrades’, these attachments add versatility to a weapon at the cost of speed. Each upgrade chosen from this list lowers the weapon’s speed by 5 points. Underslung Grenade Launcher Fires Grenades at Long rather than thrown range. Each launcher can hold four grenade at a time. Non-Pistol Firearms Only Cost: 1.5k CR Scope Halve penalty for a targeted shot while aiming. Halve distance penalties for sight based notice checks while focusing on particular area. Single-shot capable rifles only Cost: 500 CR Suppressor Increases Notice check to hear sound of gunshot or to see muzzle-flash by two steps. Conventional Firearms Only Cost: 1k CR

Red Dot Laser Sight +20 attack once/round against an opponent who is unaware of the dot. You must be able to see the dot to gain the bonus. Spotting the dot is easy (40) if the opponent knows where you are and can see on that spectrum. If the opponent doesn’t know where you are, the difficulty increases two steps. Comes in Standard, Infrared, Ultraviolet forms. Cost: 1k CR Extended Clip As standard clip, but contains twice as much ammunition. Cost: 250 CR Bayonet Convenient mounted knife, has same statistics as Longknife. Non-Pistol Firearms Only Cost: 300 CR

Notable Manufactories DynaTech A Human/Anlayis company based on Veraya, DynaTech specializes in designing state-ofthe-art computerised weapon systems as well as a well established reputation for pushing the acceptable limits of VI technology. DynaTech equipment have a fumble and open range two points higher than normal (01-05 becomes 01-07 and 96-00 becomes 94-00). Additionally, you can ignore half the penalty to a skill or attack from a single source with a computers check with a difficulty equal to the opponent’s defence or the normal difficulty of the check. This feature requires a HUD to activate in combat. Cost: 2x normal cost

Reaving More religious than corporate, this Caius-owned manufactory takes quality very seriously, putting out weapons on a caseby-case basis, and threatens it’s employees with corporal punishment for poor work. This unusual setup appears to work, for it produces reliable weapons of the very highest quality every time.

Reaving weapons have a fumble one point lower than normal. Additionally, Reaving weapons reload one action faster than normal (becoming passive if already one action), and never suffer a Break or Explodes result on a fumble. Replace such a result with Jam. All this reliability comes at a cost, however, as the heavy components slow the wielder somewhat, applying a -5 penalty to speed. Cost: 2x normal cost Nightborn Industries A Yed-ig consortium of considerable influence, Nightborn specialize in covert operations, and their equipment demonstrate their mastery of subterfuge.

Nightborn weapons have very little muzzle flash or weapon trail. Attempts to detect their presence have their difficulty increased by two steps.

weapon by 1 per grade of mastery the wielder possesses in that weapon group.

Additionally, the final damage of the weapon is increased by 50% against an opponent who does not know where the wielder is.

Vanquisher

Nightborn armour improves Stealth Fields, increasing the difficulty to spot them by one grade, and attempts to use the Hide or Stealth skills normally receive a +20 bonus per grade of quality. Cost: 4x

SynTale Masters Guild Innovation and perfection is the mantra of SynTale, a Gla’ade society dedicated to designing the perfect weapon. They do not take just any commission, and their pride in their work evinces itself in every piece they produce. SynTale weapons always possess the Precise quality, and increase the open range of any

Cost: 6x

When the excrement hits the engine exhaust, you’ll wish you had a Vanquisher. Made notorious by a popular actionvid featuring a hard-bitten Karran detective sharing his ‘culture’ with other aliens, Vanquisher weapons make up for what they lack in subtlety in sheer firepower. Vanquisher firearms apply a 1m blast radius to their ammunition. If the weapon already has a blast radius, it increases by 50%. Vanquisher weapons apply a +5 bonus to base damage per grade of quality. All that firepower makes Vanquisher weapons unwieldy however, and they suffer a +1 penalty to their Required Strength. Cost: 3x

Purchasing Manufactory Equipment Difficult to come by, Manufactory equipment often fetches a high price on worlds far from their place of origin. On the planet of origin, a Manufactory object costs the same for purposes of availability. In the system of origin, a Manufactory object costs double for the purposes of availability and the cost multiplier is increased by 1. In the sector of origin, a Manufactory object costs quadruple for the purposes of availability, and the cost multiplier is increased by 2. Otherwise, a Manufactory object costs ten times it’s usual amount for the purposes of availability, and the cost multiplier is increased by 4. It is common for manufactory equipment to be of an exceedingly high quality. You do not multiply the manufactory cost increase by quality multipliers, you simply add the multipliers arithmetically. For example, a +5 quality DynaTech weapon would cost 22x the weapon’s normal price.

It is not possible to stack Manufactory modifiers together on a single item, though you may use separate equipment from different manufactories together.

Fumbles When making a fumble with an attack roll while using a firearm, there is the chance that the weapon can jam, break, or even worse- explode. When fumbling with a firearm, consult the following table.

Fixing a break requires components worth 1/10th the cost of the weapon (taking into account any quality multipliers) and a difficult repair check, increasing in difficulty one grade per grade of quality.

Fumble Result

Effect

01-40

As Normal

41-60

Jam

A weapon can be repaired with lower quality components, but functions at the lower quality until proper replacements are found.

61-80

Break

Explode

81-00

Explode

An explosive component overheats and explodes, showering the wielder with heated shrapnel.

Jam A Jammed weapon cannot fire until it is fixed. You must make a repair check of moderate difficulty to unjam it. Remember that Combat modifiers to this check may apply in challenging circumstances. Unjamming a weapon takes an action per attempt. Break A crucial component in the weapon overheats and breaks, leaving the weapon useless.

The weapon explodes as if it were an overloaded power source in the wielder’s hands. It’s attack is considered to be Absurd (180). As you might expect, the weapon is ruined after an explode result. A weapon may be rigged to jam, break or explode the first time it is used with a moderate repair check, increasing in difficulty one grade per grade of quality.

Additional Weapons Rules The physical AT of all archaic armour (premodern) is halved against attacks made by firearms. Fully Automatic weapons can attack a number of metres up to 1/3 their maximum clip size in a line as a Full Automatic attack, attacking everything within that arc. The attack is made at a -40 penalty and costs half the maximum clip size in ammunition. Everything stepping into that arc during that turn is also attacked at the same penalty. Weapons whose Strength is higher than the strength of the enemy hit may knock their target over. In such a case, both weapon and enemy must make an opposed strength test. If the weapon beats the target by 3 or more, the opponent is knocked prone. If the weapon beats the target by 6 or more, the opponent is knocked flying back a number of metres equal to the amount they failed by, then falls prone.

The weapon must have hit and caused damage, and suffers a -3 to this test if it did less than 100% damage. Knockback weapons always incur this test, regardless of strength, and grant a +2 bonus to the weapon’s result.

Reloading Every projectile-based weapon has a set clip size, after which the character must reload. Reloading time depends on the range of the weapon: Short Medium Long Extreme

1 Active Actions 2 Active Actions 3 Active Actions 4 Active Actions

Counterattacking Remember that only melee weapons are capable of being used in a counterattack. To make a counterattack when attacked in melee, you must be wielding a melee weapon, have a bayonet or similar device attached, or possess a natural weapon. Bayonets deal 30 base damage and have a +20 speed modifier. They inflict a -10 penalty to attack to whatever weapon they are attached to. It is an active action to attach or remove a bayonet, and are enhanced separately to the weapon.

Required Strength Many firearms are too heavy or have too much recoil for a weak character to properly use. For each point a character fails to meet the required strength of a weapon, they receive a cumulative -10 to initiative and attack rolls. Increased Size The same rules for increasing the size of a weapon apply in Beyond Science as they did in Beyond Fantasy. Larger weapons are often used in weapon systems on vehicles and mecha. Quality and Resistance Weapons that induce resistance checks increase the difficulty by 10 per grade of quality.

Alternatively, you may counterattack with a melee weapon in your offhand, an unarmed strike or a natural attack.

Weapon Special Qualities Burst Burst weapons can target an area instead of an individual. For each metre of radius you choose to attack, you receive a -20 penalty to attack, to a maximum of 10m. Immolate Immolate weapons force an enemy hit by the attack to roll on the In Flames table, page 216 of the Core Anima rulebook.

Poison Enemy hit must make a PhR check against the damage dealt plus 40, taking an all-action penalty equal to the failure, and to all future applications of this poison. Failure by 80 or more knocks the enemy unconscious. The penalty wears off at a rate of 1 point per minute. Blast Affects everything and everyone within the blast radius. Scope After aiming with a weapon with a scope, you halve the penalty for making a directed attack on the next attack roll. Energy Hits enemy on the Energy AT, ignoring most forms of armour.

Trapping Traps enemies hit, using the weapon’s strength for all relevant tests. Knock-back Always forces enemies hit to make opposed knock-back tests. Weapon receives a +2 bonus to these tests. Beam The base damage of the weapon increases by 10 points per consecutive round it hits a specific enemy. Damage resets if a round passes without the weapon hitting that enemy, even for no damage. Grenade Weapon fires a grenade, rather than dealing damage directly.

Freeze Enemy hit must make a PhR check with a difficulty equal to the damage plus 40, taking a penalty to initiative equal to the failure. Failing by 40 or more inflicts minor paralysis, while failing by 80 or more inflicts partial paralysis. Penalties fade at rate of 1 per minute. Pulse Electrical equipment and robots hit with a pulse weapon must make a PhR check with a difficulty equal to the damage plus 40, Failing by 60 or more causes the equipment or robot to shut down, restarting in 1 minute. Pulse weapons only deal damage to electrical equipment and robots. Stun Enemy hit must make a PhR check with a difficulty equal to the damage plus 40, losing an active action next round per 10 points of failure. Losing more active actions than you have results in being

stunned for a number of rounds equal to the failure. Stun weapons do not deal life point damage. Obscure Sight or shooting through obscured area is considered ‘partially blind’. Sight or shooting through 6m of obscured area is considered ‘completely blind’. Special methods of vision, such as infrared can negate this penalty. For twice the cost, an obscure weapon can obscure one special method as well as normal sight (ie. Hot smoke obscures thermal imaging). Interference Electronics are blocked out within the affected area, preventing HUD use and wireless communication including giving commands to robots, much like a jammer, but much smaller in range, and requires no knowledge of computers.

Unarmed Unarmed weapons apply a damage bonus to your unarmed damage, and their penalty to your unarmed speed. You do not gain the benefit of your unarmed modules to combat manoeuvres while wearing Unarmed weapons, though you gain any other benefit. Improvised Improvised weapons weren’t designed for combat, and suffer a non-proficiency penalty when used. The improvised weapon module halves this penalty but does not remove it entirely. DMs should consider any object that wasn’t designed for combat as a potential improvised weapon. Noisy Noisy weapons are easily heard, requiring a Routine Notice check to hear if no other modifiers are present. Intervening doors, walls, background noise etc. may change the Notice check required. All Firearms are considered to be Noisy as standard,

Visibility and Light Not every form of light is visible to the human eye. Some parts of the spectrum, such as Infrared, or Ultraviolet remain invisible to those without the means to detect them. Poor visibility can drastically reduce your chances of successfully scoring a hit in combat. DMs may apply the partially obscured or totally obscured penalty under such circumstances. For each mastery you possess in Notice, and for each point you have above 10 in Perception, the penalty for poor visibility is reduced by 10 points, to a minimum of 0.

Infrared The original night-fighting spectrum, infrared sight allows you to see heat signatures and infrared beams of light, such as those commonly used in remote controls and red dot targets. Ultraviolet An extremely versatile spectrum, Ultraviolet sight allows you to notice organic substances against any surface, spot ‘invisible’ fluorescent markings and see in what is total darkness to others with an ultraviolet light.

Armour Cut

Impact

Thrust

Heat

Ele

Cold

Ene

Required

Armoured Clothing

1

1

2

1

1

1

0

10

Jumpsuit

1

1

1

2

3

2

1

20

Thinsuit

2

2

2

3

3

3

1

30

Flak Jacket

3

2

3

1

1

1

1

40

Tactical Vest

3

2

5

1

2

1

1

50

Riot Armour

3

4

4

3

1

2

2

75

Light Combat

4

5

5

3

1

2

2

90

Medium Combat

5

6

6

3

1

2

2

105

Heavy Combat

6

7

7

3

1

2

3

130

Assault Plating

7

8

8

3

1

2

3

160

Armoured Spacesuit

2

2

2

8

6

8

4

200

Armour

Modifying Armour

Costs

In addition to enhancing armour with technology points, you may also improve a single AT of your choice for each 10 points of additional requirement. This increases the cost of the armour as normal. If this enhancement occurs after the armour has already been paid for, you must pay the difference between the current and improved armour.

Generally speaking, armour costs the requirement to wear it squared in credits, though circumstances may alter the price.

Damage Barrier Your damage barrier in armour is your modified AT x10 against the weapon used, rather than a set number.

Additional Rules If your wear armour skill is lower than the requirements of the armour, you take the difference as a penalty to all physical actions, including initiative. You may no longer stack armour, unless you naturally possess it, in which case the lower AT is halved and added to the total.

Vehicles For non-space faring adventures, characters may need to travel by land, air or sea. Fortunately, vehicles are here to get them where they want to go. Vehicles are treated as being starships for the purposes of lifepoints and AT, although the minimum size of a vehicle is much lower, allowing for even Medium size vehicles such as bicycles. Factors such as air-resistance, grip and poor manoeuvrability can hamper a driver’s ability to avoid attacks, however, causing them to be more vulnerable in combat than starships. The pilot/driver therefore, takes the following penalty depending on the medium travelled.

Medium Travelled

Penalty

Open Space Flight

No Penalty

High Atmosphere Flight

-40 to Pilot/Defence

Low Atmosphere Flight

-80 to Pilot/Defence

Ground Surface

-120 Pilot/Defence

Water Surface

-120 Pilot/Defence

Underwater

-200 Pilot/Defence

These penalties also apply to starships entering atmosphere,

Training Modules Weapon Class Modules To effectively use a class of weapon, you must possess the weapon class module relating to it. If you use a weapon without the requisite module, you suffer a -30 penalty to attack and initiative. Each weapon class module costs 20 points. You may buy a particular weapon class module once then once again per level of mastery. Buying the same module again grants a stacking +10 attack and initiative bonus when using that weapon class. This is called a specialization. Specializations beyond the first one grant additional bonuses: 2nd Specialization +20 criticals with class Make additional attacks at -20 penalty 3rd Specialization +40 criticals with class Make additional attacks at -15 penalty 4th Specialization +60 criticals with class Make additional attacks at -10 penalty

Weapon Classes Pistol Rifle Energy Heavy Blade Unarmed Blunt Polearm Exotic (per weapon) Improvised

Mental Conditioning Whenever your will might be tested, either by torture, propaganda or confidence tricks, your training always sees you through. +2 on willpower tests and +10 mental resistance Cost: 40 Linguistic Training You can speak any language still in circulation and available to the galactic community, regardless of your intelligence. Cost: 40

Hail of Bullets You only suffer a -10 penalty per additional attack when making multiple attacks in a round, while using a semi-automatic weapon. Cost: 30 Combat Martial Arts You deal 30 points of damage with your unarmed strikes, and gain a +10 nonclass attack bonus when striking unarmed. Cost: 30

Perfect Form You reduce the Strength requirements for wielding a ranged weapon in two hands by 2 points. Cost: 30

Defensive Martial Arts You halve the penalties to attack when attempting to trap, take down or disarm an opponent. You gain a +2 characteristic bonus to perform these attempts. Cost: 40

Trained Marksman While aiming, you are treated as if you have aimed for an additional round. Cost: 40

Bodyguard You can defend someone else before or after your initiative, and take no penalty to do so. Cost: 20

Double-Tap You may gain an additional attack with a semi automatic weapon once per round. The usual multiple attack penalties apply. Cost: 40 Bull's-eye You are treated as aiming for a round after spending an active action doing nothing but aim. You may do this once per round for each time you take this module. Cost: 40 (may take up to 3 times)

Galactic Fighting Championship Contender Prerequisite: Having qualified to fight in the GFC; Combat Martial Arts You now deal 50 points of damage with your unarmed strikes, ignore 2 points of armour and increase criticals inflicted by your unarmed attacks by 20 points. You gain an additional +10 attack and +20 initiative when fighting unarmed. Cost: 50 Shoot from the Hip You suffer no penalty to ranged attacks when moving quarter your speed in a turn or less. If you run faster than this, the penalty for making ranged attacks is halved. Cost: 30

Coolness under Fire You gain a +40 bonus to composure, and take only half the normal penalty for Taking Fire. Cost: 40 Rapid Reload You can reload in half as many active actions. Short range weapons may be reloaded with a passive action. Cost: 30 Longshot You take half the normal penalty for attacking beyond your range increment. Cost: 40 Hacking Protocol No penalty for attempting to hack computer systems during combat. Cost: 40

Defensive Specialization Requires 100 Defence per grade You gain an additional defence per turn, a +10 training bonus to defence, and a +1 bonus to attribute tests to defend against combat manoeuvres. You may take this module multiple times. Cost: 60

Extreme Sports Fanatic You gain +10 physical resistance and +1 to all physical characteristic tests. Cost: 40

Gla’han Do Prerequisite: Trained for at least two years in traditional Gla’ade martial arts; Defensive Martial Arts You take no penalty to trap, takedown or disarm an opponent, add four times your opponents strength modifier as a bonus to

Lightning Draw You suffer no penalty for attacking in the same turn that you draw a weapon, and gain a +20 attack on one attack immediately after drawing a pistol-sized weapon. You may only gain this bonus once per combat. Cost: 40

your base damage during a counter, and gain an additional +20 to defence and +10 to initiative when fighting unarmed. Cost: 50

Armour Specialization Reduce all Wear Armour requirements for armour you wear by 10. Additionally, you may reduce the final damage from blows you take by 5 points when wearing any type of armour. You may take this module more than once, but each additional time requires you to have gained a mastery in Wear Armour. Cost: 40 Blackblood Initiate Requires Mastery in Poisons Increase the PhR difficulty of any poison you craft and then use by 20. Assault Training You gain the Shield Weapon Module. When using a shield, you may declare one direction for it to face at the beginning of your turn. When attacked from that direction by a ranged attack, your physical AT increases by 2 +1 per grade of quality that the shield possesses. This bonus stacks with armour. Cost: 50 Lightning Reflexes You do not have to pay the first -25 initiative penalty to gain an additional action on your turn. Cost: 50

At the creation of the poison, you may choose a particular species to effect, e.g. Human. When used on that species, the poison has twice the normal effect (e.g. damage becomes x2 damage). Effects that cannot be doubled have their onset time halved instead. Cost: 40 Blackblood Adept Requires Blackblood Initiate; Two Masteries in Poisons Increase the PhR difficulty any poison you craft and

of

then use by 40. At the creation of the poison you may introduce a sample of the species to be affected (hair/skin/blood etc.). If you do so, the difficulty to cure the poison you develop increases two steps, and it’s duration is doubled when used on a species of that type. Cost: 60 Ancient Style Requires Combat Martial Arts or Defensive Martial Arts Choose one benefit from the list below each time you take Ancient Style. You may take this module multiple times. Cost: 40 Aikido You suffer no penalties to combat manoeuvres during a counterattack and may add twice your opponent’s strength modifier to your final unarmed damage on a counter. Kung Fu You gain a +20 bonus to final damage, unarmed attack, defence or initiative. You may change where this bonus is applied each round. Muay Thai You may add your strength modifier to your unarmed base damage, and again to your unarmed final damage.

Hold Position You do not receive penalties for Taking Fire during a turn where you do not move. Cost: 30 Ghost-Step You take no penalty to Stealth for full movement. Cost: 30 Advanced Weapons Training Halve the penalty for using unfamiliar equipment or weaponry. Cost: 30 Combat Technician You suffer no penalty for attempting to repair equipment or vehicles during combat. Cost: 30

Misdirection Halve the penalty to Hide in front of someone. Cost: 40

Training Packages Often a particular race or group will train their members in a particular set of skills, a holistic package rather than one aspect at a time. Training packages are a larger investment, but each part of the package will be cheaper, and often will have benefits greater than the sum of the whole. You may only take one training package at each level. Gla’ade Celebrantte Linguistic Training; Extreme Sports Fanatic Additional Racial Bonus (Cultures) Cost: 60 Karran Errant Blades Module; Coolness under Fire; Lightning Draw and In the Face of Adversity (see Core Book p267) Cost: 80

Caius Headhunter Rifle Module; Trained Marksman Increase difficulty to be tracked two steps Cost: 40 Human Special Forces Mental Conditioning; Defensive Martial Arts; Unarmed Module Half effect from enemy coercion Cost: 50 Tuer’ii Peacekeeper Assault Training; Bodyguard; Shotguns Module Ignore PhR checks of less than 80 Cost: 80 Lupa Keeper Blackblood Initiate; Polearm Module Immunity to Natural (not custom-made) Poisons Cost: 50

Super-Heavy Armour Lying somewhere between heavy armour and Mecha class, superheavy armour or ‘Tactical Battlesuits’ enable the most experienced and well-off soldiers the same kind of protection as being behind six feet of steel. Many sport exotic abilities and defences, such as protective forcefields, radar and powerassistance, but their prohibitive cost in both training to use and expensive components leave them out of the reach of the ordinary soldier. Any armour with a Wear Armour requirement of more than 200, unmodified by training modules is classified as Super-Heavy Armour. Being Super-Heavy has a number of benefits and restrictions. Penalties: The character using Super-Heavy Armour suffers a -40 penalty to initiative and any secondary skill that would be affected by Natural Penalty in the Core Rulebook. Similarly, the character suffers a 2 penalty to movement speed. Neither penalty can be reduced by virtue of the character’s Wear Armour.

Benefits: Characters wearing super-heavy armour are more difficult to knock over or trip. They receive half their impact AT as a bonus against such tests. Characters wearing super-heavy armour no longer have a vulnerable point. Attacks against the head or heart are treated as if they were normal attacks. Additionally, half of the Damage Barrier they receive against conventional attacks now applies against attacks that ignore it (such as energy weapons or AT reduction weapons).

Technology Sufficiently advanced technology may appear as magic to the uninitiated, but for the properly educated, it can mean the difference between life and death. This section details how players can use advanced technology to improve their equipment and construct prototype weapons and droids.

Only cutting edge equipment that cannot be easily bought with credits will be found here- for everything else, see the equipment section. If you see the asterix symbol (*), then the technology requires a power source to function. More asterixes mean more power is required. Inventor You may develop new technologies using the Prototype Development primary skill. Cost: 20 TP Massive Calibre (weapon) +5/+10/+15 Final Damage Cost: 10/30/50 TP Carbide Matrix (armour) +5/+10/+15 Damage Barrier Cost: 10/30/50 TP Digital Camouflage* (armour) +40/+80 Hide Cost: 10/30 TP Polymer Mesh (armour) +1/+2/+3 AT (two types) Cost: 10/30/60 TP Accelerator (weapon) +1/+2/+3 Strength Cost: 10/30/60 TP Linear Compensator (weapon) -10/-20/-30 Range Penalty Cost: 10/30/60 TP Custom Action (weapon) +5/+10/+15 Speed Cost: 10/30/60 TP

EX Rounds (ammunition) 1m blast radius Cost: 30 TP Gel Rounds (ammunition) Non-Lethal Cost: 20 TP HUD* (equipment) Combat-ready computer and display Cost: 10 TP IFF (weapon) Requires HUD, area attack with an automatic weapon safely, never hit friendly targets Cost: 10 TP TrIdent (weapon) Requires HUD Halves cover bonuses Cost: 20 TP SecLock (equipment) Requires HUD Raises difficulty to hack HUD two or four grades Cost: 10/30 TP Monoedge (weapon) Bladed weapons only, ignore 1/2/3 AT and increase final damage 5/10/15 Cost: 10/30/60 TP

Environmental Shielding* (armour) Immunity to inclement weather condition, the vacuum of space and low level radiation Cost: 40 TP

Ultraviolet Lenses* (equipment) See enhanced spectrum (ultraviolet) Cost: 20 TP

Power Assistance* (armour) Strength 9 or +1 strength Cost: 50 TP Enhanced Power Assistance** (armour) Strength 11 or +2 strength Cost: 90 TP

AEX Rounds (ammunition) 3m blast radius Cost: 50 TP Tracer Rounds (ammunition) +10 attack Cost: 30 TP Target Lock (equipment) Requires HUD, +10 attack on same opponent attacked last turn Cost: 10 TP PeRad (equipment) Requires HUD, automatic notice 180 to spot movement within 100m. Cost: 30 TP Phosphorous Rounds (ammunition) Ignites on receiving damage, roll on table 73 In Flames. Cost: 30 TP

Ultimate Power Assistance** (armour) Strength 13 or +4 strength Cost: 130 TP Depleted Rounds (ammunition) Ignores 2 AT Cost: 10 TP APDS Rounds (ammunition) Ignores 4 AT Cost: 30 TP Infrared Lenses* (equipment) See enhanced spectrum (infrared) Cost: 20 TP

Hollow Rounds (equipment) +40 critical, -2 AT penetration Cost: 20 TP Hidden Compartment (equipment) Hidden compartment ¼ the size of the object it is placed in Cost: 10 TP Concealed Radiation (equipment) Conceals the signature given off by a power source for 10 rounds per minute. You may only have one radiation concealment device per power source. Cost: 20 TP

Magnified Targeting (equipment) Requires HUD Halve penalty to shoot beyond normal range when aiming for at least 1 round. Cost: 10 TP Electric Generator * (per grade) (weapon) Deal extra 10/20/30 electrical damage with melee attack,, may stun opponent at full damage dealt Cost: 10/30/50 TP Thermal Sink (weapon) +10 speed, increase clip size 50% Cost: 40 TP Integrated Equipment (armour) Integrates a piece of equipment or weaponry into a suit of armour. Cost: 5 TP Hidden Equipment (armour) Conceals an already integrated piece of equipment or weaponry in a suit of armour. Cost: 10 TP

Thermal Camouflage (armour) You gain a +200 bonus to hide from infrared sensors or sight. Cost: 30 TP Plasma Sheathe (weapon) Ignore 20/40/60 points of damage barrier. Melee weapons only. Cost: 10/30/50 TP Cardio-Regulator (armour) +10 PhR, increase regeneration by 2 points and automatically stabilizes wearer when he is between life and death. Cost: 50 TP Miniature Power Source (equipment) A miniature but stable fusion reactor, producing 1 unit of power with no telltale signature. Cost: 20 TP each

Flechette Rounds (ammunition) Doubles damage for purposes of inflicting criticals only. Cost: 20 TP Personal Shield * (equipment) A 100LP shield, protecting the character at a defence of 140. Each round the shield takes no damage, but still has power it regenerates 10LP, to a maximum of 100. Damage that exceeds the personal shield’s LP is transferred to the user. The maximum LP and regeneration is multiplied by 10 when placed on a starship instead of a person. Cost: 40 TP Shield Projector * per grade (equipment) Requires Personal Shield Increases the defence of the shield by one grade- from 140 to 180, or from 180 to 240, for example. This does not increase the LP of a shield. This technology may be taken

up to three times. Cost: 30TP Shield Capacitor (equipment) Requires Personal Shield Increases the maximum LP of a shield by 100 points. This does not increase the shield’s regeneration rate. This technology may be taken any number of times. Cost: 20 TP Shield Regenerator * per grade (equipment) Requires Personal Shield Increases the LP regeneration of a shield by 10 points per round. This increases the amount of power required by one per regenerator technology. Cost: 10 TP Power Recirculator (equipment) Requires a power source, but does not draw power Recycles a point of power for use from every two a character uses in a round. Cost: 30 TP/50 TP for starships

High Yield Explosives (equipment) Characters regain the TP from explosives after the session they use them. Explosives must be set with timer or detonator. Cannot be detonated on the same round they are set. All TP costs are for one explosive. Damage 100 Blast 10m Cost: 10 TP Damage 150 Blast 20m Cost: 30 TP Damage 200 Blast 30m Cost: 50 TP Stealth Field Generator** (armour) Grants an Absurd Hide result, irrespective of skill or penalties, including being in front of someone. Shooting or taking any other offensive action ends the field effect until your next round. Cannot be used in the same round as a Shield Generator. Cost: 50 TP

Stealth Field Generators only hide characters from the visible spectrum. Ultraviolet or Infrared sensors or sight will still detect them.

Stealth Field Augmentation * (armour) Requires Stealth Field Increases Hide check result to Almost Impossible, and taking offensive actions only reduces the check Result to difficult, instead of turning off. Cost; 70 TP Nanoparticle Spray (equipment) A small steel capsule pecked with holes, Nanoparticle spray detonates missiles, grenades and other explosives when they move through the area of effect. Detonation occurs at a distance of 4m from point of blast, which may leave targets in the area anyway. This technology must be activated to work, and lasts for 5 rounds before disintegrating into a barely noticeable black powder, and can be activated 5 times before needing a refuel at a cost of 50CR. Cost: 20 TP

consumption do not apply. Cost: 40 TP Vectored Thrusters (equipment) Increases the Flight Value of the attached Jetpack by 2/4/6 points, to a maximum FV of 10. Cost: 10/30/50 TP Flash Suppressor (equipment) Grants Immunity to Partial Blindness caused by bright light, and a +100 bonus against Total Blindness caused by bright light. Cost: 10 TP Microfibre Pads (equipment) Allows user to walk or climb sheer surfaces at half normal speed. Cost: 30 TP Hacking Protocols (equipment) Requires HUD Hack as a Passive action. Cost: 20 TP Reactive Nanoparticles (equipment) Requires Nanoparticle Spray Increases the range of detonation to 8m, but quadruples the refuel cost. Cost: 10 TP Jetpack*special (equipment) Grants a Flight Value of 4. Requires 1 unit of power for the first 10 rounds, 2 for the second 10 rounds, 3 for the next ten rounds etc. Power requirements reset after 1 minute without use. In space, or if attached to vehicles, these increases to power

Sensor Array (equipment) Requires HUD Scan as if inside a Starship Cost: 50 TP

Multi-Chamber (weapon) You may assign two clips of ammunition to a firearm, using only one at a time. It is a passive action to switch between the two clips. Cost: 20 TP Composite Materials The strength required to use the modified firearm is reduced by 1,2 or 3 points. Cost: 10/30/50 TP

The Cost of Technology Purchasing new technology costs the tech points needed to use it squared times 10 in Credits. Purchasing used technology costs the tech points needed to use it squared times 5 in Credits, though any fumble made while using it will lead to the technology breaking,

costing the tech points squared, an hour per tech point and a repair check to fix. Creating technology takes the tech points needed to use it squared in credits, a relevant secondary skill check and two hours per tech point to create. Purchasing or creating technology does not mean you have the tech points to use it. Technology only functions for you if you can invest the tech points into it. If not, the technology either remains dormant or breaks, as you do not yet understand how to maintain or use it effectively. At the beginning of each session, you may change the technology you use and reinvest points as you see fit. Technology can be applied to other characters as well as yourself, but you can only sustain one particular piece of equipment every time you pay the technology cost. Inventors with a mastery in Prototype Development reduce the time required by one half. Possessing two masteries in that skill reduces the time required by a further quarter.

Instead of gaining a Heritage Point at a level up, you may choose to receive an extra 50 Technology Points.

Genetics Originally intended to counter disease and extend life, the science of Genetics has developed to a point where an individual can have near-total control of what his DNA makes him. While many choose to become smarter, stronger, better looking, some go deeper, questioning their own humanity and becoming something else entirely. While so-called ‘extreme’ Gene Therapy, such as Splicing and other modifications are illegal on many worlds, and those who voluntarily allow themselves to be changed are considered to be

freaks by most societies, that has not prevented a whole subculture of ‘Evolutionaries’ emerging throughout the galaxy. In their minds, who you are is not determined by your birth, but rather what you can change your code to be. Genetics is cheaper and easier than cybernetics, but a more difficult route to power, as it builds upon what is already present, rather than replacing it. Different planets will have different rules regarding genetic manipulation. The Lupa, for example, consider all genetic modification a blessing, while the Caidos consider it sacrilege.

Splicing

Additional Rules:

Splicing is the art of genetically combining two species to gain the benefits of both. Splicing is expensive, requiring both genetic abilities and advantage points, but the results it produces are superior.

Splicing bonuses are not subject to Attribute Bonus rules- the remaining bonus is not halved once the attribute is increased above 10. Penalties will however, reduce your maximum.

Splicing requires a minimum constitution plus genetic adaptation equal to or greater than the requirement, and the Spliced advantage.

You may splice more than once, but add all the requirement value of all previous splices to the requirement of the new splice you want to acquire, and requires you gain the Spliced Advantage again. Racial bonuses are added to your normal list, gaining a +10 to that secondary skill every level.

Increasing your constitution by any means other than heritage does not increase your constitution for the purposes of genetic adaptation or cybernetic integrity. Only your Natural, Racial and Heritage bonuses apply in this case.

Feline +1 Agility; +1 Perception Night Vision; Acute Hearing Racial Bonus (Notice) Requirement: 6 Canine +1 Constitution; +1 Willpower Acute Smell; Natural Weapon (Bite) Racial Bonus (Track) Requirement: 6 Rodent +1 Dexterity; +1 Intelligence Small Frame (-2 Size); Increased Movement 2 Racial Bonus (Stealth) Requirement: 6 Primate +1 Strength; +1 Power Large Frame (+2 Size); Rage +20/30 Racial Bonus (Climb) Requirement: 6 Crocodile +2 Constitution; +1 Strength -1 Intelligence Vulnerable to Cold; Natural Weapon (Bite); Increased Regeneration 2 Racial Bonus (Swim) Requirement: 8 Shark +2 strength; +1 agility -1 Dexterity Reduced Movement 2 Aquatic Breathing; Natural Weapon (Bite) Racial Bonus (Swim) Requirement: 8

Rhinoceros +2 Strength; +1 Constitution -1 Power Nearsighted; Natural AT 2; Natural Weapon (Gore); Large Frame (+3 Size) Racial Bonus (Withstand Pain) Requirement: 8 Avian +2 Agility; +1 Perception -1 Constitution Natural Flight 6; Acute Senses (Sight); Natural Weapon (Beak) Racial Bonus (Search) Requirement: 8 Instead of gaining a Heritage Point at a level up, you may choose to gain an enhancement relevant to your splice with a cost of 1 Genetic Point.

Mutaven +2 Intelligence; +1 Power; +1 Dexterity; -2 Constitution Basic Shapeshifting (Humanoid Only) Racial Bonus (Cultures) Requirement: 10 Darkener +1 Mental Attributes -1 Physical Attributes Mental Communication (Medium); Half Penalty for Unfamiliar technology or weapons; Double Cost Physical Secondary Skills Racial Bonus (Technology) Requirement: 10

Xenat +1 Agility; +2 Constitution; +1 Dexterity -1 Perception; -1 Intelligence Survivor; Appearance = 2; Small Frame (-2 Size) Racial Bonus (Acrobatics) Requirement: 10 Ravager +2 Strength; +2 Dexterity; +1 Agility -1 Constitution; -2 Intelligence -4 Adaptation; Immune Inclement Conditions Large Frame (+5 Size) Racial Bonus (Intimidate) Requirement: 12

Enhancements Enhancements require a minimum constitution plus genetic adaptation equal to or greater than the requirement, and costs a number of genetic potential points equal to the cost. Increased Damage +20 damage to natural weapon Can be taken up to 3 times. Requirements: 6 per grade Cost: 1 Increased Speed +10 initiative Can be taken up to 3 times. Requirements: 6 per grade Cost: 1 Increased Physical Ability +1 to any physical ability and +10 to a skill of that type Can be taken up to 3 times per ability. Requirements: 5 per grade (even if in different abilities) Cost: 1 Unusual Size Change size by 5 points Can be taken once Requirements: 7 Cost: 1

Ambidexterity -10 penalty only for off hand Can be taken once Requirements: 5 Cost: 1 Aquatic Breathing Breathe normally underwater Can be taken once Requirements: 9 Cost: 2 Natural Weapon Gain a natural weapon Can be taken up to 3 times. Requirements: 6 per grade Cost: 1 Acute Sense +40 to use of one sense and +1 to sensory increment Can be taken up to 5 times. Requirements: 5 per grade Cost: 1

Cardiovascular Endurance +40 athleticism and +2 fatigue Can be taken up to 3 times. Requirements: 6 per grade Cost: 1

Aquatic Compatibility +40 swim and Aquatic Movement Can be taken once. Requirements: 8 Cost: 2

Natural Poison Level 40 Poison+20 levels per grade thereafter Can be taken up to 3 times. Requirements: 7 per grade Cost: 1

Alacrity +2 Movement Can be taken twice. Requirements: 6 per grade Cost: 1

Increased Critical +20 critical with natural weapon Can be taken up to 5 times. Requirements: 6 per grade Cost: 1

Flight Natural Flight 6 +2 per grade thereafter Can be taken up to 3 times. Requirements: 8 per grade Cost: 2

Tentacles Trapping 8 +4 per grade thereafter Can be taken up to 3 times. Requirements: 7 per grade Cost: 1

Extra Heart +20 to physical resistance Can be taken twice. Requirements: 5 per grade Cost: 1

Hive Mind As Mental Communication at Moderate Difficulty. Can be taken once. Requirements: 9 Cost: 3 Advanced Hive Mind Requires Hive Mind Improves result to Very Difficult. Can be taken once. Requirements: 11 Cost: 2 Genetic Memory +40 to three secondary skills Can be taken up to 3 times for the same three skills. Adding an additional grade increases the bonus by 40, or adds 3 new secondary skills to receive the same bonus. Requirements: 5 per grade Cost: 1 Perfect Physique Increase Appearance to 10 Can be taken once. Requirements: 3 Cost: 1 Heat Tolerance Gain a Heat AT of 4, and a +80 to all physical resistance checks to resist heat or fire effects. Can be taken once Requirements: 9 Cost: 1

Cold Tolerance Gain a Cold AT of 4, and a +80 to all physical resistance checks to resist cold effects. Can be taken once Requirements: 9 Cost: 1 Electrical Resistance Gain a Electrical AT of 4, and a +80 to all physical resistance checks to resist electrical effects. Can be taken once Requirements: 9 Cost: 1

Regeneration +2 regeneration Can be taken up to 3 times Requirements: 5 per grade Cost: 1

Spider-Walk Walk at half speed on walls/ceiling Can be taken once Requirements: 11 Cost: 1

Armoured Skin Physical AT +2 Can be taken up to 3 times Requirements: 7 per grade Cost: 1

Adrenal Glands Activate with passive action to gain additional active action with +20 all action bonus at +20 initiative. Can be used once per minute. Can be taken twice Requirements: 12 per grade Cost: 2

Rending Natural Weapon ignores 2 AT Can be taken up to 3 times Requirements: 7 per grade Cost: 1 Thermal Camouflage +200 to Hide against infrared sensors or sight. Can be taken once Requirements: 10 Cost: 1 Poison Blood Requires Natural Poison Creatures within 2m suffer your natural venom when you are injured. Can be taken once Requirements: 13 Cost: 1

Modifications Modifications function exactly like enhancements, but are far more invasive and have much more dramatic results. Modifications are suitable for higher level genetic specialists. Napalm Breath Damage 100 10m cone Immolate on hit Useable once per 10 rounds Can be taken once Requirement: 19 Cost: 3 Chameleon Skin When not moving and not wearing armour, others must make a Notice check of Very Difficult to spot you. Can be taken once Requirement: 18 Cost: 3

Phase Out You may become Intangible for 1 round for every 5 rounds that pass. Can be taken once Requirement: 21 Cost: 4 Ionic Epidermis You gain a natural AT of 4 against Energy attacks. Can be taken once Requirement: 17 Cost: 2 Psionic Potential Choose one level one psychic power from the telekinetic or telepath discipline. You may use this power as if a psychic. Can be taken multiple times. Requirement: 15 plus 3 per grade Cost: 2

Combat Drugs The quest for an edge does not stop at genetics. When a temporary solution is required, some unscrupulous militaries turn to combat-enhancing drugs. Caution is advised, however, as the side-effects can be more lasting than the enhancement. Every combat drug has an effect, a side-effect, an overdose effect and an addiction rating. Using a combat drug requires an active action without an Auto-Injector (see the technology chapter). The effect and side-effect kicks in immediately, and lasts for the stated duration. Overdose occurs when you take a particular combat drug again within 24 hours, or by taking it while still under the effect of another combat drug. The effects of addiction apply unless under the effect of the combat drug or it’s overdose, and lasts until you go for the stated time without taking it again. Taking the combat drug again resets the addiction withdrawal time.

Addiction Rating

PhR to Resist

Withdrawal Duration

I

100

1 week

II

140

2 weeks

III

180

1 month

IV

220

3 months

Addiction checks are made the second time you take a combat drug.

ProtoCardium Cardium only appears in it’s natural form on Karran worlds, and is considered poison anywhere else. In a refined state, it accelerates the metabolism and modifies signals given off by pain receptors. Gain Damage Resistance life points equal to your Constitution x20. While effected, your defence is halved rather than negated due to Damage Resistance, as if you were Absorbing Blows. Karrans and other creatures with the Cardium Addiction racial trait gain life points equal to their Constitution x40. The effect lasts for the user’s constitution in minutes, or until life points are exhausted. At end of effect, user must make a PhR check equal to half the number of life points they gained. Each point of failure inflicts a point of life point burn. Overdose leads to twice as many life points being gained, which of course means that the PhR to resist the effect is twice as high.. ProtoCardium is Addictive Rating III, and inflicts the Low Pain Threshold disadvantage during Withdrawal. Those with a naturally Low Pain Threshold suffer x3 effect instead of x2.

Protein Redevelopment Stimulation (STIMMS) Ubiquitous but painful, supplies of STIMMS are kept in reserve by many major corporations. Grants Regeneration 15 for 1 minute, but does not restore limbs. User is considered to be under the Pain state while using STIMMS. Overdose leads to double pain state, but no additional healing. STIMMS are painful, not addictive, but extended use (more than four times in a month) requires a Rating I check, or suffer the Slow Healer disadvantage during Withdrawal.

Transcenscion A little white pill marketed by the Yed’ig, Transcenscion causes the normal limits the brain puts on the muscles to degrade, massively increasing their strength, at the cost of safety. Transcension increases the number of fatigue points you can spend on a single action to 5, and the bonus granted by each point of fatigue is increased to 25. You must make a PhR check or take an all-action penalty equal to the failure level every time you use a fatigue point this way. The difficulty is equal to the bonus gained. Additionally, bonuses granted by a high strength attribute double during use. The effect lasts for 10 minutes, Overdosing requires a PhR check or suffer 1 point of Strength burn per 10 points of failure.

Transcenscion is addiction Rating II, and inflicts the Exhausted disadvantage.

Cybernetics Cybernetics started as a way to replace body parts that had been damaged or destroyed, allowing the user some semblance of their former utility. However, as technology grew ever more advanced, prosthetics began to outperform their biological counterparts. The result was that perfectly healthy people began to choose to remove parts of their body and replace them with cybernetic versions. Opinion of cybernetics differs among alien groups. Some, such as the Yed-ig and Karrans view it with indifference, while others, such as the Lupa and Purnata hate anything related to cybertechnology with a passion. Others, such as the humans, ban or allow cybernetics on a case-bycase basis, allowing ones that improve a lifestyle but banning dangerous enhancements The Anlayis however, see cybernetics as the natural progression of evolution, and continue to sell enhancements, even on planets where enhancement is banned, leading many humans to pick up ‘wetware’ from the Anlayis, highly illegal cybernetics designed to look and feel completely natural.

Enhancements To purchase an enhancement, a character must first pay the required amount of cybernetic potential and possess a cybernetic integrity bonus equal to or exceeding the integrity prerequisite. There is a CR cost associated with the enhancement as well, but this is waived at character creation. Replacement limbs and organs that are identical to the character’s natural function have no potential cost, and are considered Grade 0. All enhancements possess an AT of 4+their grade when attacked. Each cybernetic enhancement chips a piece of the user’s sense of identity as an organic being away, meaning that heavily enhanced creatures have a difficult time understanding and adapting to societal norms. As such, characters suffer a -5 penalty to all social skills per cybernetic enhancement they possess. Note: Potential Costs and Integrity Requirements are not cumulative. Upgrading an enhancement costs the difference between the grades in potential.

You may replicate a cybernetic limb at the same grade for 1 cybernetic potential extra, rather than pay the cybernetic cost again (i.e. buy two mechanical arms rather than one). CR costs are normal, however. You cannot gain more limbs this way, if you naturally had more than 2 limbs of that type, the cost is 1 cybernetic potential per additional limb. Atrophied or destroyed limbs can be replaced, but if a cybernetic negates a disadvantage, you will lose an advantage point or a heritage point. The CR cost of cybernetic enhancements is equal to it’s cybernetic potential cost multiplied by the integrity requirement, multiplied by 100. You may create cybernetic enhancements at 1/10th this cost with the Inventor Tech Ability and the Mechanical Engineering primary skill.

Mechanical Hand

Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

Originally designed for delicate surgical procedures, Mechanical Hands offer precise and dextrous movement and hand-eye coordination.

I

+40LP

1

9

II

+60LP

2

11

III

+80LP

3

13

IV

+100LP

5

15

Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

V

+150LP

7

17

I

DEX 9

1

8

VI

+200LP

9

19

II

DEX 10

2

10

VII

+300LP

11

21

III

DEX 11

3

12

IV

DEX 12

5

14

V

DEX 13

7

16

VI

DEX 14

9

18

VII

DEX 15

11

20

Retinal Prosthesis Available in a variety of spectral wavelengths, Retinal Prosthesis’ give sight to the blind. Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

Metallic-Skeletal Implant

I

PER 9

1

8

Invasive in the extreme, MetallicSkeletal Implants offer massively improved resistance to pain and injury.

II

PER 10

2

10

III

PER 11

3

12

IV

PER 12

5

14

V

PER 13

7

16

VI

PER 14

9

18

VII

PER 15

11

20

In addition to the extra Life Points, this implant grants half it’s bonus to physical resistance against the effect of critical hits.

Mechanical Legs Originally designed to help paraathletes compete in games, Mechanical Legs are treasured by thieves, couriers and longdistance runners all over the galaxy. Mechanical Legs do not come separately, always in pairs. Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

I

MV 9

1

7

II

MV 10

2

9

III

MV 11

3

11

IV

MV 12

5

13

V

MV 13

7

15

VI

MV 14

9

17

VII

MV 15

11

19

Inbuilt Weaponry Cybernetics may be illegal on most worlds, but inbuilt weaponry is a declaration of war on all but a few. Most conceal their true purpose until moment of use. Inbuilt weaponry costs 1 cybernetic potential per weapon, and can be placed inside any other cybernetic enhancement as an upgrade. More innocuous equipment, such as PerCom units and other tools can also be inbuilt at the same cost. It doesn’t cost much, either way: 1k CR A Search check reduces the difficulty to notice wetware by one grade.

Wetware Wetware makes a specific cybernetic enhancement look, sound and feel natural, though intense scrutiny may reveal an artificial origin (flesh that doesn’t sweat, bleed or flush red, for example). Wetware costs Credits, not cybernetic potential, as shown on the following table:

Grade

Notice Difficulty

Cost

I

Difficult

1k

II

Very Difficult

4k

III

Absurd

9k

IV

Near Impossible

16k

Protein Therapy

Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

Capable of quickly and safely regenerating damaged tissue, Protein Therapy Implants are standard issue for many commando units.

I

+100 PhR vs gases; Aquatic Breathing 1 hour

1

7

Unlike natural regeneration, Protein Therapy cannot reattach or regrow missing limbs, only heal damage.

II

Immunity to Gas effects; Resist Decompre ssion for 1 minute

2

9

Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

I

Regen 4

1

9

II

Regen 6

2

11

III

Regen 8

3

13

Spring Legs Upgrade

IV

Regen 10

5

15

V

Regen 12

7

17

Enhances a character’s Mechanical Legs, allowing them to make incredible leaps easily and reliably.

VI

Regen 14

9

19

VII

Regen 16

11

21 Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

Implanted Rebreather

I

Jump 180

1

7

A lifesaver in toxic conditions, the Implanted Rebreather does the work of an additional lung, filtering out chemicals and oxygenating blood.

II

Jump 280

2

11

Secondary Skill Upgrades, such as the Spring Legs replace a character’s secondary skill, rather than adding to it. You may still roll normally, however, and gain the benefits of any masteries you have in that skill.

Social Interaction Enhancement A favourite of unscrupulous politicians, celebrities and negotiators, the Social Interaction Enhancement monitors the breathing, heart-rate and other tell-tale signs of emotional change to the user. Programmed for use on any sentient species, it grants a bonus on social skills when within line of sight. Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

I

+40 Social Skills

1

7

II

+60 Social Skills

2

9

III

+80 Social Skills

3

11

IV

+120 Social Skills

5

13

Synthetic Pheromones Upgrade Not content to simply analyse emotion, users of the SIE cybernetic use tailored pheromone packages to assist them in delicate social situations. Pheromones work as a very potent inhaled poison, delivered invisibly at short range. Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

I

PhR 200

1

9

II

PhR 300

2

13

If a target is successfully effected, attempts to influence him with social skills are made easier by two steps. A release of Pheromones require an Acute Sense (smell) to detect. The noise of the nanotube dispensers can be heard with an Impossible Notice check (hearing).

Mechanical Arm Popular with construction workers and soldiers, mechanical arms offer massively increased strength without overly affecting the body’s natural functions. In addition to the listed strength, a mechanical arm is treated as a Natural Weapon, and is fitted with a Grade 0 mechanical hand at no cost.

Grade

Effect

Potent.

Integ.

I

STR 9

1

7

II

STR 10

2

9

III

STR 11

3

11

IV

STR 12

5

13

V

STR 13

7

15

VI

STR 14

9

17

VII

STR 15

11

19

Robotics Robots are machines designed to perform a task independently of the user. A character may use robots as assistants, guards or even as mecha. A Robot’s physical characteristics are dependent upon it’s Frame, while it’s mental characteristics (if any) are dependent upon it’s AI. A character can build a Frame with a Mechanical Engineering check, and an AI with an Artificial Intelligence check. Creating a frame requires access to robotic components and relevant tools, while creating an AI requires a useable computer and a data disc. Creating a Frame costs the Mechanical Engineering check squared, while creating an AI costs nothing. Both require a number of hours work equal to the check. As with Inventor, each mastery in the relevant skill reduces the time required to build it. To a frame cost, components may be added, which increase the Mechanical Engineering check required to create it, and the subsequent cost.

Frame Size

Check

Manoeuvre/ Mass

Miniscule

180

7/3

Tiny

20

6/6

Medium

40

5/9

Big

80

4/11

Enormous

120

3/14

Giant

140

2/17

Colossal

180

1/20

AI Check

Development Points

80

100

120

150

160

200

200

250

240

300

280

400

320

500

360

600

All primary and secondary skills cost 2:1 for an AI. They may not take Genetic or Cybernetic skills. They may purchase Training Modules as normal, however.

Components Pilot (Big or Larger Frames Only) Adds a piloting compartment to the frame, allowing it to be manually controlled from inside. Cost; 40 Loadbearing Joints Increases the frame’s strength by one point. Cost: 20 Composite Construction Increases the frame’s agility by one point. Cost: 20

Technology/Equipment Array Allows a single piece of technology/equipment to be added to the frame. It is considered to be part of the robot thereon. Cost: 5 Weapon System Allows a single weapon of equivalent size to be added to the frame. A robot does not have to ‘draw’ a weapon system, and is always considered armed. Cost: 10

Additional Limbs (arms) Gimballed Joints Adds two additional arms to the Increases the frame’s dexterity by one chassis. point. Cost: 40 Cost: 20 Additional Limbs (legs) Hardened Chassis Adds two additional legs to the chassis. Increases the frame’s constitution by Cost: 20 one point. Cost: 20

Program Packages Assassin Package Advanced Weapon Training module Add Intelligence modifier to all Attack rolls Cost: 40 DP Protocol Package Linguistic Training module Add Intelligence modifier to all Social Field skills Cost: 20 DP Sensor Package Halve all penalties for distance

Artificial Intelligence A robot’s AI may be spent on Mental Characteristics, Combat and Secondary skills. They may not purchase technological skills, and do not receive heritage points, class bonuses, Mental Characteristics must be purchased using Table 81 (Characteristics in Magical Beings) from the Core Rulebook. An AI’s willpower characteristic increases the difficulty to hack it. Add twice the AI’s willpower modifier to it’s difficulty when an attempt is made. As you might expect, AI’s can specialize in certain tasks. For the listed cost in DP, an AI may have a Program Package, allowing it to perform specific tasks more easily. An AI can have as many Program Packages as it can afford.

Add Intelligence modifier to all Perceptive Field skills Cost: 30 DP Firewall Package Locks out after failed hacking attempt for a determined period of time. Add twice Intelligence modifier to hacking difficulty Cost: 20 DP Computerized Package Hacking Protocol module Add Intelligence modifier (again, if necessary) to all Technical Field skills. Cost: 40 DP

Mecha Simply put, a Mecha is a (usually humanoid-shaped) robot you can pilot. Part-vehicle, part automaton, Mecha are prized for the versatility and protection that they bring to the pilot within. Their cost, however, is prohibitive, and often have weaker armour or weapons than a vehicle or starship of equivalent size, leading many militaries to use only smaller versions to support squads of footsoldiers. Adding the Pilot component to a frame is all that is necessary to turn a robot into a mecha.

While piloted, a mech uses the pilot’s defence and initiative as modified by it’s size as if it were it’s own. A pilot may choose to use the weapons or sensor systems, using his own attack and perception-based skills, or leave it to the AI, if the mecha has one. He may not roll twice and choose the better result! While being piloted, a mecha’s piloting compartment is considered to be a vulnerable point. Destroying the robot this way requires the pilot to make a separate critical damage PhR at the same difficulty as the mecha.

Hacking Hacking into a robot without an AI is easy, you just need to connect to it with a computer. Most AI-less robots require a direct connection via cable to do this, leading many engineers secure the access panel at the back with locks and other security measures. Since robots have only one access point, only one person may attempt to do this. Hacking an AI is more in-depth, requiring a connection and a hacking check with a difficulty equal to the result needed to create the AI. Successfully hacking an AI allows you to give it commands as if you were it’s owner and edit or remove existing instructions. If more than one person is trying to command an AI- e.g. two hackers, or one hacker and the rightful owner- an opposed

Hacking or Artificial Intelligence check is made. Success by less than 40 confuses the AI, and it makes no actions this turn. Success by more than 40 allows the winner to command the AI this turn. Success by more than 80 induces a lockout, and prevents the loser from making another attempt for a pre-set amount of time, set at creation, usually a minute. Access Panels (Security) Type

Cost

Access

Unprotected

None

Routine

Basic

50

Moderate

Advanced

200

Difficult

Expert

1k

Very Difficult

Master

10k

Absurd

Welded Shut

None

Wireless Only

Heritage The men and women of the future come from a very long line, their genetic code inherited from many who have defined their civilization. Heritage is a means of quantifying the effect that being the product of thousands of generations of heroism and evolution, as well as the inspiring effect an advanced culture can have on those that live inside it. Characters receive one heritage point per level, rather than receiving a bonus to a characteristic every other level. Bonuses to attributes are subject to the usual rules if they would increase an attribute above 10.

Survival of the Fittest 2pts Perhaps your culture had an interest in social Darwinism, your family married for genetic strength, or perhaps you’ve had a few modifications along the way. In any event, you’re much more than the average specimen of your kind. Each of your attributes under 10 increases by 1 point. This does not increase your attribute maximum. Political Savant 1pt Your ancestors knew when to talk, when to listen, and how to get what they wanted. Add your power modifier to all skills from the social field. If the skill was already modified by power, you may add the bonus twice.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants 1pt

You gain your power modifier to all technical skills.

You’re only one in a long line of innovatorstheir genius is your genius, and your hard work is only the end of a long line of struggle for the betterment of mankind.

Legacy of Dread 2pts

Add your power modifier to all knowledge skills. Hidden Legacy 1pt Never in the spotlight, your ancestors preferred to work behind the scenes. You gain your power modifier to all subterfuge skills. Machine Lord 1pt You’ve never been more at home than among whirring gears and hissing pistons.

req. Disquieting Your ancestors sat on a throne of the skulls of the vanquished, unapologetic about the suffering they had caused. You are similarly unconcerned with the petty plights of others, and are able to channel your ancestors malevolence in your own life. Intimidate always costs 1:1 for you. Using Coercion with intimidate increases the penalty by your power modifier when used successfully.

The Call of Duty 1pt None may ask for what your ancestors delivered. You die at (5+power)x constitution rather than 5x and automatically overcome the state between life and death. Fearless Pioneer 1pt Your ancestors boldly went where none had gone before. Add your power modifier to checks to resist natural hazards, such as pitfalls or acid. Additionally, you may add your power modifier to all social rolls with other species. Daredevil 1pt Danger never stopped your ancestors from surviving to adulthood. Add your power modifier to all athletic skills.

In Blackest Night 2pts

Ladies Man/Black Widow 2pts

Req. The Call of Duty

Maybe Casanova was a distant relative of yours?

Your willpower is legendary, your strength of purpose unbeatable.

Add your power modifier to all checks opposed by a sentient member of the opposite sex.

You add your power modifier to all resistances.

Additionally, these types of opponents will usually try to capture you alive rather than kill you, unless explicitly ordered to do so. To retain this benefit, you must seek to do the same.

Enhanced Ability 1pt Stronger, faster, smarter. Increase one of your ability scores by one point. Genetic Recombination 2pts The animal within… You may take a spliced template, provided you meet the requirements.

Finest Hour 1pt

When reduced to half or less life points, when engaged in an impossible ranked challenge, or when a companion has just been reduced to 0 life points or less within your line of sight, you may enter your ‘Finest Hour’, gaining an all action bonus equal to your power, halve any critical or fatigue penalties and becoming immune to all emotional effects. This lasts for the current scene, or until you die heroically.

You have a reputation for amazing heroism under the worst situations. When cornered, you are able to share this cultural relic with those sceptical of your prowess.

As a side effect, this ability improves all style results you make by two categories while it is active.

History of Service 1pt Your father served in the military, and his father before him, and his father before him, and his father before him… You gain your power modifier as an all action bonus whenever you are affected by an emotional effect (even a negative one). When commanding others, you may grant this bonus with a leadership check.

Strong-Minded 1pt Your ancestors weren’t the smartest or the strongest of their race, their true strength was their persistence and determination to never give up. You ignore the penalty for the fear effect, and take half effect from terror. Additionally, you add your power modifier to all mental resistance checks.

Your ancestors specialized in making sure others met theirs. After dropping an opponent to 0LP, you gain your power modifier as a bonus to initiative and attack for the rest of this and your next turn. Child of Karras 2pts Your ancestors believed life to be the ultimate competition, and they aimed to win. You ignore your power modifier worth of penalties when rolling percentile dice.

Accidents and Hazards The universe is a dangerous place for the unprepared. Acid, killer plants and low gravity represent new threats for adventurers to face. Acid Powerful acids or alkali can cause serious, long-lasting damage to characters. Significant contact (ie. splashed) causes damage equal to the amount the character failed her PhR by. Total immersion causes double the failure rate in life point damage. Visibility Areas of low visibility require perception tests to see through. Notice checks and attack rolls suffer a -20 penalty per point of failure.

Gravity Zero gravity inflicts a -40 all action penalty, while low gravity inflicts a -20 all action penalty. High gravity halves each character’s derived lift capacity and movement speed. Radiation Radiation causes an all action penalty equal to the amount the character fails the Physical Resistance check by, and a -1 to all physical attributes per 10 points of failure. Radiation poisoning must be treated with a medicine check, and does not heal naturally. Vacuum The cold vacuum of space is not a safe place to be. Unprotected, characters take a PhR check of 40 every round, taking damage equal to the failure. The difficulty increases by 20 for each additional round thereafter. Breathing apparatus reduces the difficulty by half, and wearing an environmental suit negates this effect.

Overcoming Death For high level or wealthy characters in Beyond Science, even death may not be final. With sufficient resources, technology and disrespect for the natural order, characters can be rebuilt. First you need a scientific facility equipped for the task, it must have dedicated facilities at least 10 million credits in value. Second, you need a lead scientist and team. The lead scientist must have at least 2 levels of mastery in Science, Medicine and Technology. The team must have a combined skill total in each these three fields of at least

10 masteries worth, at least 1 mastery per member. Third, you need the body of the character, mostly intact. Organs can be replaced, but the more you lose, the more difficult the procedure is. More difficult procedures cost more, require more from their team and cause more strain on the character. The Lead Scientist makes three skill checks at the end of the project- one for Science, Medicine and Technology. The dead character must make three constitution checks. To revive without incident, all three must be passed. If any fail any of these, consult the next page…

Condition of Body

Secondary Skill Difficulty

Constitution Check Difficulty

Procedure Cost

Intact

280

10

25k CR

Minor Damage

320

12

50k CR

Significant Damage

440

14

100k CR

Playing God Some forces were never meant to be tampered with, and even the most cunning and insightful discover more than they bargain for. These forces rarely work in the favour of those that would subvert natural laws. Failing a Secondary Skill If the lead scientist’s secondary skill check fails to meet the target number, the constitution check required by the character to be resurrected is increased by 1 for every 20 points the lead scientist failed by. Failing a Constitution Check If the character fails one or two of the constitution check, it can have a significant effect on his faculties. Roll on the following table for each failed check.

Roll

Result

1

Disfigurement

Reduce appearance to 2

2-3

Muscle Atrophy

-2 to a physical attribute (determined randomly)

4-5

Brain Damage

-2 to a mental attributes (determined randomly)

6-7

Damaged Nerves

-30 Initiative

8-9

Weak Immune System

Halve Physical Resistance

10

Memory Loss

Lose a level

Psychological Dangers Not all dangers an adventurer faces will be physical. The universe is full of things so terrifying, so mind-blowing that even the staunchest of wills and highest of intellects have trouble comprehending them.

Mind Control Failure to pass the mental resistance against these effects results in being controlled for 1 minute per point of failure. You get another save for each different act against your nature you are asked to commit. Resisting ‘Direct Control’ requires opposed mental resistance checks. Passing three times renders you immune to the effect for an hour. Trauma Short-term mental trauma, such as losing a close friend, or being surprised by a particularly gruesome sight requires a mental resistance check. You take an all action penalty equal to half the level of failure. The penalty lasts for 1 minute per point, though the

emotional effects may run much longer. Mental Overload A sudden influx of knowledge requires an intelligence check. Failure will reduce all of your mental scores by 1 per 3 points of failure, for 1 hour per point. Reducing any mental score to zero causes the character to enter a permanent vegetative state. Coercion Attempts to manipulate a character rely on skills from the social field and are resisted by mental resistance. Consider the difficulty of the tests to be half the result of the secondary skills. The effect will be appropriate to the intent and will be at most half the level of failure. Coercion may only be attempted once per combat on a target or group, and requires a shared language, or suffers a -100 penalty. The DM is the final arbiter of what coercion can or cannot do.

The Galactic Stage The Galactic Stage is the phrase sentients use when they talk about what is going on in at a galactic scale. Developed over millennia, it has seen countless races rise and fall, and it’s face changes with every event. Generally speaking, every race has a role in the galactic stage. Though species may spread their resources out to remain independent, every species does one thing well- or else they wouldn’t have risen to prominence.

Though all-out war is uncommon, the galaxy remains an extremely dangerous place, filled with piracy, ancient defences and thrill seekers. Every race handles its own affairs, and is responsible for it’s own defence. Though Tuerii patrols and Karran Bounty Hunters may occasionally save merchant ships passing through neutral space, it remains a hazardous place to linger. However, many enterprising souls do exactly that, as uncharted territory can be a lucrative opportunity for the business-savvy. With the discovery of the Rim, a vast collection of habitable worlds far removed from normal space, it is the beginning of a new Age of Discovery.

The Rim This sudden discovery has led to the formation of thousands of minor expedition companies being formed, each seeking to make their fortune in the Rim. The rewards are many- some of these Rim worlds were once thriving communities of long dead species, who left behind highly sought after Precursor Technologies. Others hold vast reserves of natural resources desperately in demand back in normal space, such as Iridium, Bauxite and liquid Wiscardium, a semi-organic mineral which can command up to a hundred thousand credits per kilo in Karran space.

So far, only one colony has been established in the Rim, the now legendary Heavens Gate biosphere, hovering over a gas giant at the hyperspace entry-point to the sector. Millions of new species have also been documented in the Rim, some so alien as to be completely unlike anything found elsewhere. Others, like the Ravager and Mutaven were thought to have been hunted to extinction, and have recently been rediscovered.

Bestiary